Preston Puma Newsletter
August 14th, 2026
Welcome to the 26-27 School Year!
It has been an exciting week having all of our teachers and staff back in the building! The energy is high as we prepare to welcome our students next week, and there is a real sense of excitement about the year ahead.
While we have been busy preparing classrooms, reviewing expectations, and getting all the important pieces in place, we have also made sure to carve out some time for laughter and team building. Our “Minute to Win It” games have brought plenty of smiles, friendly competition, and opportunities to connect as a team. It has been so much fun!
As we head into the final days of preparation, we are ready to shift into high gear—making the most of our time, taking care of business, and ensuring that we are ready to give our students the strong start they deserve. We’re excited, we’re prepared, and we’re ready for a great year at Preston!
Keeping Our Pumas in the Know
My goal is to keep YOU in the know about all things Puma while celebrating the many successes happening across our school! We’ll continue to build this newsletter with helpful resources, reminders, and answers to some of the questions we hear most often. If there’s something you’d like to see included, please let us know. We’d love your ideas and will do our best to make helpful topics a regular feature.
A Few Important Updates
As we look ahead to our time together on Monday evening, I want to share a couple of updated and new policies at Preston. If you aren’t able to join us Monday, no worries—this information will also be shared with all families next week.
1. Away for the Day: Cellphones & Personal Electronic Devices
We will continue to be a Cellphone-Free School, and we are moving to the language of Away for the Day. This applies to cellphones as well as other personal electronic devices (PEDs).
Our goal is simple: limit distractions, increase engagement, and create an environment where students can focus on learning. We appreciate your partnership as we work together to make this successful.
Please note: This policy does not limit access to devices needed for medical purposes.
2. Backpacks in Lockers
As part of our continued focus on safety, students will keep their backpacks in their lockers during the school day. We’ll also use this as an opportunity to help our Pumas strengthen their organizational skills and learn to prioritize the supplies they truly need throughout the day.
Small pencil pouches are welcome and can be a great way for students to keep those essential items organized and easy to carry.
We’re in This Together: Every Student. Every Day!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or suggestions. We truly value your partnership, and we’re always happy to connect and work together to support our Pumas.
Have a wonderful weekend, and I look forward to meeting you soon!
Best,
Gwynne Johnson
