Polo Community Unit School District

Caleb Sutton has been selected as our February 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. Caleb has answered a few questions about himself: Parents: Jennifer Emmert, Chris Sutton Siblings: Brayden Sutton Favorite class: English Comp Favorite teacher: Señora G. School activities in which you participate: Golf, Band, Drama Club, Varsity Club, FCCLA, Student Council, Game Club, and Spanish Club What is something you learned in high school that you think you’ll never use? Most of Music theory. If you could create any new class at your school, what would it be? A more advanced Psych and Sociology class What does it take to be a successful high school student? Paying attention in class, turning in work, and being kind to others. Do you have a job? Yes, I work at the subway in town. How would you describe your group of friends? I would describe my group of friends as smart and rambunctious at the same time. What do you do in your free time? I don’t have much free time for myself but when I do I just like to either relax at home or go out with family and golf sometimes. What kind of music are you listening to? I listen to all kinds of music but the kind I most like is rock music. If you could go anywhere in the world for free, where would it be? I would probably go to Scotland, where I could visit the history and all of the views that it has to offer. What is your favorite childhood memory? On Black Friday every year in elementary school, I would go to Indianapolis with my one aunt to visit my other aunt who lived there. While in Indy we would make it a tradition to always go to both the zoo and the children's museum. What is the best way to cheer you up? Tell me a joke or take me somewhere fun to get my mind off of whatever is bringing me down. What is your life’s philosophy? Be kind to others even when they aren’t kind to you. Be the bigger person and don’t judge because you might not know what others are going through in their life. What would you do if you received $1 billion all of a sudden? I would take and Donate half of the billion to a charity of my choosing. Then take and put 25% into a savings account. After that I would invest just about 2.5% into the stock market to make a bit more money. Lastly I would take the rest of the money and pay off any college bills that I have, help my family out, and then invest more into my future with retirement. ● What class do you find really engaging and why? The class that I find fully engaging is Band. In the class our teacher Derek McAnally teaches us how to become better musicians and how to play the rhythm correctly and how to practice on our own time making us better. I am surrounded by people in the band that I call my friends and I know we all have each others back when we need it. ● What are your career and post-graduation plans? My post-graduation plans include attending the University of Louisville in Kentucky. There I plan on studying Social Work, where I can get my BSW (bachelors in social work) in 4 years and my MSSW (Masters in Science in Social Work) in another year. ● What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in? My two favorite extracurricular activities are Golf, and Drama Club. I started playing golf my freshman year, and each year I have seen myself get better and it has taught me many things, for example; I have learned patience, better hand eye coordination, more teamwork skills, and has helped my mental health more. I have also been a part of the drama club since my freshman year, and it has also taught me a variety of things. Those being; leadership, how to memorize things better, and being a better person with people. ● Please share a moment, group event or activity at school that was meaningful or memorable. I have been a part of many group events and activities but the thing that was most meaningful and memorable for me was playing in our school's pep band. Throughout all 4 years I had been playing in our school's pep band as our lead trumpet player for almost all of those years. This was memorable because it was an experience that gave me millions of memories from playing with my friends on the stage or in the stands at games or rehearsing in the band room with everyone and learning new music to play for the people every game. ● What is your hope for the future? My hope for the future is after obtaining my masters degree to join a private practice and get my footing for a couple years building up a clientele and then after either going back to school for my doctorate or starting my own practice whichever comes first, but both are the ultimate goal for me.

Announcement for the 6GBB Game. Reminder that the 6th GBB game vs Meridian is starting at 3pm at Centennial today. The only entrance for the game tonight will be the outside gym door, door #2. Additionally, restrooms will not be available until school has been dismissed and kids have exited the building, around 3:20. Live Stream Link for 7/8... https://youtube.com/live/eZyEJop_l8M?feature=share

Congratulations to our two wrestlers who have qualified for the state tournament!! Maddox Busker at 167 and Maddox Peterson at 275. Good luck next weekend!!

The 7/8GBB game on Monday at Meridian will be a 3pm start time for 7th grade with 8th grade to follow. Bus time is 2pm. 6th GBB will have a 3pm start time against Meridian at Centennial.

PCHS Dinner Theater is right around the corner. Please make your reservations today. Tickets will not be available at the door. The show" Snow White and the Seven Endings" will begin at 6:00 pm tomorrow, Saturday, March 1st @6:00 PM. for $15.00 per person at the Polo High School. Dinner includes: Braised chicken, roasted chicken, potato wedges, mac and cheese, green beans, assorted salads, and assorted fruit pies. Tickets can be purchased in the Polo High School office. 815-946-3314

Hello! If your Jr. High student is interested in joining track, please email ajones@poloschools.net with the following info: Student Name Parent Phone Number Parent Email Last day to register is March 12th. Practice starts March 17th. Thank you!

Congratulations to our place winners in the Rt 72 Wrestling Conference Tournament last night!! Gabe Morris, Ryder Faivre, Maddox Busker, Matthew Bonnell, and Konner Patton all placed within the top 3 of their weight class.

JH GBB vs Pecatonica on Wednesday, February 26th will be an 8th grade game only starting at 4pm. 7th grade will receive a forfeit.

CPO Dinner Night Out Tomorrow - Wednesday, February 26, 2025 At The Lamplight - 124 East Mason, Downtown Polo 3:00pm - 7:00pm A portion of all sales will be donated back to Centennial Parents Organization!

" Snow White and the Seven Endings" The Drama Club will be having their dinner theater this Saturday, March 1st @6:00 PM. for $15.00 per person at the Polo High School. Dinner includes: Braised chicken, roasted chicken, potato wedges, mac and cheese, green beans, assorted salads, and assorted fruit pies. Tickets can be purchased in the Polo High School office. 815-946-3314

Congratulations to our IESA Wrestling Sectional Qualifiers!! Good luck to Ryder Faivre, Carter Quaco, Maddox Busker, Parker Simons, and Maddox Peterson next weekend in Oregon.

Good Luck to our Spelling Bee winners, Jackson Buskohl from Aplington and Annalise Knutson from Centennial, at the Regional Spelling Bee. We are so proud of you!

Polo and Amboy Cheer performed at the Amboy Game to spread school spirit for both sides! Thank you, Amboy for a fun collaboration!

***SCAM ALERT*** The Polo School District is not asking for donations for athletic t-shirts. If you are asked to donate, this is a scam.

Family Fun Fair at Northland mall Feb 22 2025 11 :00AM to 1:00PM

Name: Natalya Witkowski Age: 18 Parents: John Witkowski and Christina Corcoran Siblings: Sean Corcoran, Izabella Witkowski, Alanna Witkowski Favorite class: Holocaust and Genocide Favorite teacher: Mr. Barger School activities in which you participate: FCCLA, Cheerleading, Spanish Club, Student Council, Varsity Club, National Honor Society What will you do after high school? I am attending Sauk Valley Community College to study Early Childhood Education to become a teacher. What is something you learned in high school that you think you’ll never use? The unit circle What does it take to be a successful high school student? Set high expectations for yourself and work hard. It’s important to be involved and step out of your comfort zone. Try something new! Do you have a job? I work at Mcdonald’s in Dixon, Illinois What do you do in your free time? I love listening to new music, and spending time with my friends What kind of music are you listening to? Tyler the Creator, Hozier, Faye Webster and TV Girl What is your favorite childhood memory? I loved turning off my older brother’s Xbox and running away everytime he made me mad What is the best way to cheer you up? A cherry twist Alani and a hug What would you do if you received $1 billion all of a sudden? Go to as many concerts as possible Your favorite: Number: 24 Movie: Forrest Gump TV Show: Shameless Color: Pink Food: Swedish meatballs Song: Analog 2 by Odd Future   ● What class do you find really engaging and why? I have loved taking English 12 Composition taught by Betsy Coy. It’s great being in an English class with a teacher who challenges me to be a better writer, and read books out of my comfort zone. My favorite assignment was writing a persuasive paper on the rhetoric of a Breaking Bad Super Bowl commercial. This class also introduced me to one of my favorite books, Lord of the Flies. ● What are your career and post-graduation plans? After high school I plan to continue working at Mcdonald’s over the summer to save up money. In the fall I’m attending Sauk Valley Community College to study Early Childhood Education. After that, I’m transferring to Northern Illinois University to become a kindergarten or preschool teacher. ● What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in? I loved being involved in my local theater during my freshman and sophomore year. I was an actor, stage manager, I did everything! It was so fun to put on shows and be a part of something bigger than me. If I had the time, I would definitely go back! I also enjoy participating in Student Council events like Doggy Dash and Elder Buddy. It feels great to give back to the community and just have so many eye opening experiences. ● Please share a moment, group event or activity at school that was meaningful or memorable. Learning my very first homecoming routine was a very special moment for me. It was the hardest thing I had ever done in cheer. Our team spent almost two months choreographing and learning a six minute dance. Although it was exhausting, I’ll never forget nailing the routine and the big group hug we had after. It was so much fun performing with such a sweet group of girls. ● What is your hope for the future? To live a long and happy life with a job I love, a family, and a cat!

Dick's Sporting Goods Store is offering 20% off an in-store purchase from February 21st through February 24th. The coupon has been attached. Thank you to IHSA for working with Dick's Sporting Goods Stores to provide these coupons!

Due to incoming bad weather, we will be utilizing an E-learning day tomorrow - Wednesday, February 12th. High School and Aplington Middle School students - Teachers will be available via email between 9:00am and 2:00pm. All work will be located in your Google classrooms. Centennial students - All work will be located in your take home folders. Thank you!

Conscious Discipline is used with our students at Centennial Elementary. Please consider attending t o learn more.

Polo girls basketball will be hosting Hinkley Big Rock tomorrow, February 8th with JV starting at 2:00 PM. Join us as we honor 1000 point scorer Cam Jones between games.