Banoak Elementary School

10/11/2026

🔥 Respect shines bright at our school! 🔥

Congratulations to our September Students of the Month! Teachers and staff selected these students for demonstrating September’s Character Trait of the Month: RESPECT. 🌟

Through kind words, thoughtful listening, and treating others with care, these students show how everyday choices can IGNITE a positive school community. 💛🖤

Help us celebrate these shining examples of respect with a round of applause! 👏

Bellen T., Barefoot
Dakota H., Browning
Chloe M., Carroll
Caroline T., Matthews
Charlotte S., Petree
Alistair H., Rhoney
Braxton S., Miller
Camriee L., Pope
Kingston S., Haberski
Ellie B., Willis
Finley T., Foster
Ruby H., Woodward
Athena T., Heaton
Harrison S., Orego
Angelica D., Gibson
Mila S., Holman
Mayze D., Ayotte
Korbin S., Perry
Evie Jo C., Riley
Eli A., Buvid
Anthony F., Lambert
Wendell W., Hunsucker
Asher V., Wilson
Camden B., Forney
Ellie P., Hilton

10/08/2026

We are nearing the end of first quarter, and time is flying by! Things have been busy at Banoak, but we should never be too busy to recognize the hard work of our Banoak students, staff, and community. Unfortunately, we missed a couple of special recognitions recently, and we want to take the time to remedy that now! 🎉

First, we'd like to recognize and thank our amazing custodial staff here at Banoak. This hardworking team keeps our school clean, welcoming, and ready for learning. From early morning preparations to cleaning up after a busy day, their care helps make every classroom a place where we can IGNITE bright ideas! Our custodians also wear a lot of other hats, from working in the cafeteria to driving buses. Their dedication does not go unnoticed, and their contributions are a crucial part of our success. 🔥💛🖤

Second, we want to share our appreciation for the many ways our Banoak Elementary PTO supports our students and staff. Already this year, the PTO has purchased recess equipment for all grade levels, a digital camera for our new Yearbook Club, and two Dash robots and accessories for our new Junior Robotics team. The PTO is also working hard to raise money to continue helping meet the needs of all of our Chargers, and they also volunteer regularly in our classrooms. Each member of the Banoak PTO gives time, creativity, and heart to help IGNITE exciting opportunities for our students and encouragement for our staff. Their support is key to Banoak's growth and success. 🔥💛🖤

Please join us in thanking our custodial staff and our PTO for making Banoak a better place every day! 👏👏👏

10/06/2026

🎉 October is National Principals' Month 🎉

We've been patiently waiting for the surprise CCS post honoring Mr. Goodson, mostly to see which one of the pictues we secretly sent in made the cut. And yesterday was finally the day! While a picture of a principal holding a sheep brain is definitely a solid choice, we didn't want everyone to miss out on a few of the other top contenders, so here you go! 📸

Jordan Goodson helps our students and staff IGNITE their curiosity, shine with confidence, and fuel a love of learning! From cheering on small victories to leading with a big heart, he helps make our school a place where bright ideas catch fire. 🔥

Join us in showing Mr. Goodson some love in the comments! 💛🖤

10/06/2026

🧠 A little brainpower, a lot of heart—and a willingness to get hands-on with learning!

This National Principals’ Month, we’re celebrating Jordan Goodson of Banoak Elementary School! As this photo shows, Mr. Goodson is ready to join the discovery and help IGNITE curiosity. 🔥

🏫 His favorite part of the job: A positive, family atmosphere where staff support one another and love students unconditionally.

🔥 What IGNITES him: Reaching new milestones and encouraging everyone to focus on personal growth—with plenty of fun and laughter along the way!

💬 His guiding quote: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.” — Michael Jordan

Thank you, Mr. Goodson, for bringing the heart, humor, and energy that help make great things happen at Banoak! 🐾

09/17/2026

Update from the Banoak PTO:

We are excited about these two NEW ways to support Banoak Elementary — and we would love your help spreading the word!

🎟️ Want a chance to WIN 50% of the pot?
Our 50/50 Raffle is underway! 50% goes to one lucky winner, and 50% comes back to Banoak to support our students, teachers, and programs. The more tickets we sell, the BIGGER the prize! 💰

50/50 Raffle: https://givebutter.com/banoak-ptos-5050-raffle-zwbhlx

👕 Calling ALL Business Sponsors!
Our new Banoak T-Shirt Sponsorship Program is a great way for local businesses to support our students while also getting their business name in front of Banoak families and our community. Students can find a business sponsor, families can purchase shirts, and businesses can choose from several sponsorship levels.

T-shirt and Sponsorship Program: https://givebutter.com/banoak-chargers-t-shirt-booster-program-2026-2027-a8xhtk

We LOVE supporting the businesses that support our kids, and this program is another way to help bring our school, families, and local community together. ❤️

📂 Check out the links provided with this post to participate or use the flyers sent home with students last week!

Know a local business that might want to sponsor? Please share the information with them! And if you're feeling lucky, grab those 50/50 raffle tickets!

Support our students. Support our school. Support our community. And maybe even WIN BIG! 🖤💛🔥

By Banoak Elementary PTA

09/15/2026

🎨🎵🎭 Happy National Arts in Education Week! 🎭🎵🎨

This week, we celebrate the creativity, imagination, and joy that the arts bring to our school—and the incredible teachers who make those experiences possible! ❤️

Through art, our students explore colors, ideas, and new ways to express themselves. 🎨 Through music, they discover rhythm, melody, teamwork, and the joy of making music together. 🎵 Through drama, they build confidence, creativity, communication skills, and bring stories to life. 🎭

Behind every masterpiece, song, and performance are dedicated teachers who encourage our students to create, explore, take risks, and shine! ✨ Their passion for the arts helps students discover talents, build confidence, and see the world in new and exciting ways.

During National Arts in Education Week, we proudly celebrate our young artists, musicians, and performers—and give a special round of applause to the amazing educators who bring the arts to life for our students every day! 👏❤️

Thank you, Mrs. Ayotte, Ms. Holman, and Mrs. Winn, for inspiring creativity and helping our students find their own unique voices!

09/03/2026

An Important Message from the Banoak PTO:
A New Approach to Supporting Banoak 💛🖤

Banoak Families,

After some discussion and planning, we have decided to go in a different direction this year and will not be holding our traditional Fall Festival.

We love opportunities that bring our Banoak community together, but we also recognize that large events can require a significant amount of time, planning, and expense—not only for the school and PTO, but for our families as well. This year, we want to try something a little different.

Instead of focusing so much of our fundraising and family involvement around one large event, we are planning several smaller opportunities throughout the school year. Our hope is to give families more choices and more flexibility to participate in the activities and fundraisers that work best for them.

🎟️ We are excited to kick things off with our new 50/50 Raffle, where half of the proceeds will support Banoak, and one lucky winner will receive the other half! Buy your tickets online now through November 15 using the attached QR code. Share the flyer and the QR code to help us raise more money for Banoak AND make sure that one lucky supporter wins BIG! 💰

👕 We are also introducing our Banoak Shirt Booster Program, which gives students, families, and local businesses a fun new way to show their Charger pride while supporting our school. Sponsorships available include:

🔥 $50 Student Sponsorship: Student receives a free shirt. Business name is featured on the back of the shirt.
🔥$100-$1000 Business Sponsorships: Free shirt for student and business. Business name featured on the back of the shirt. Business will also be recognized on the Banoak PTO social media page.
Note: Business sponsorships do not have to be tied to a specific student.

No sponsor? No problem! Shirts are available for purchase for $20 each (2XL and larger will have an additional fee.)

And these are just the beginning! Throughout the year, we hope to offer additional fundraisers, special activities, and community opportunities. Families can choose what they would like to participate in—or not participate in—without feeling like everything is tied to one big event.

Every fundraiser and activity has the same goal: supporting our students, teachers, classrooms, programs, and school while continuing to build the strong Banoak community we are so proud of.

Thank you for supporting Banoak and for being willing to try something new with us this year. We are excited about what is ahead!

Your Banoak PTO 💛🖤

09/01/2026

September is Public Library Card Sign Up Month! 📚🎶🪪

📚🪪 Does your child have a public library card? If not, let us make that process easy for you! All kindergartners and all students who are new to Banoak should bring home a letter and a library card application today from the Catawba County Library System. Families can return the applications to their child's homeroom teacher, and our media coordinator, Mrs. Perry, will collect the applications and deliver them to the Southwest Branch in Mountain View. When the library cards are ready, she will distribute them to homerooms to send home.

➡️ Any students in first through sixth grade who aren't new to Banoak but either need a library card or would like to update their information with the Catawba County Library can also complete and return an application. Check ParentSquare for a post with both English and Spanish versions of the letter and application attached. No way to print and need a hard copy? No problem! Message Mrs. Perry or your child's homeroom teacher, and we will send a paper copy home!

⏰ All library card applications are due by Friday, September 11th. Please contact Mrs. Perry with any questions!

08/23/2026

🎉 Welcoming New(er) Faces 🎉

Lewis Halstead, Custodian

Mr. Halstead joined our team last spring, so we wanted to take this opportunity at the beginning of the new school year to officially introduce him!

I'm Lewis Halstead. I joined the Army at 17 and retired at 38, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. Afterwards, I got my Class A CDL and drove a truck with Sysco and Harris Teeter for the next 20 years, retiring again. I am married with two sons and a granddaughter.

Welcome to Banoak, Mr. Halstead! 💛🖤

08/22/2026

🎉 Welcoming New Faces 🎉

Tina Butler, Teacher Assistant

Hi! My name is Tina Butler. I have been married to my husband Robert (Bobby) for 32 years. We have three adult children.

I have driven a school bus for 14 years, and I was a substitute teacher for 2 1/2 years. My husband and I also drove tractor trailers cross country for four years. I love hot air balloons, diamond art, and reading.

Welcome to Banoak, Mrs. Butler! 💛🖤