Our Mission

The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences for our students that result in high achievement.

Our Expectations

Vision

At Winston Elementary School we believe that the purpose of education is to provide continuation of essential learning. It is our ultimate goal to supply each student with basic skills and experiences necessary for them to be productive members of society. We will aid our students in becoming self-sufficient individuals mentally, physically, socially and morally so that they can meet the demands of a rapidly changing society.

Our staff will lead students toward being disciplined productive, informed and fulfilled individuals. To achieve this vision, mutual respect and understanding must be present in the learning process on part of all participants-the staff, students and community. We need your help!

School History

Initial Development

Winston prides itself on our long and exciting history. The years from 1928 through 1954 were known as the "strawberry" school years. Since many families were poor during this time, the children would help harvest strawberries. During the summer months the children went to school and in the winter they would help with the harvest of the berries.

Here is an excerpt from a living strawberry school child:

"My daddy was a farmer and planted peas, beans, corn, bell peppers, squash and other vegetables, but the main money crop was strawberries. They were almost a year-round crop. We had to plant beds to make plants for the fall planting. The beds had to be weeded in the summer and then we planted the strawberry plants in October. The plants would start bearing first the last of December. The best bearing months were January, February and March. That is why the strawberry schools started the latter part of March and went to the latter part of December. Most of us were poor in those days, so the children had to help in the fields. Daddy did hire some others to help pick strawberries. We paid them 3 cents a quart. I do not remember being paid over 2 cents a quart."

The first school constructed on the present location was in approximately 1900. This was a one-room building. It was torn down in 1928 to make room so the first brick unit, now standing, could be built. This unit consisted of eight classrooms, an office, auditorium and a library. A plaque on the outside attests to this date. If you have read the book "The Strawberry Girl", then you were reading about the area where our school is located. You might know more about Winston than you thought!

Today our school houses over 37 classrooms, including the library, office, and auditorium.

Recent History

Winston Elementary's first grade building was added as a National Historical Monument in April 2002. Many of our alumni attended the ceremony. It was very interesting to hear about the "good old days" at Winston.