Polk County Schools Preschool Program is now taking applications for the 2018-2019 school year. Children must be 4 years old by Aug. 31. Applications can be picked up at each elementary school, the Stearns building in Columbus, or printed from the Polk County Schools website, www.polkschools.org. For more information, call the preschool department at 828-894-3051. Preschool classrooms are located at each elementary school; Polk Central, Saluda, Sunny View and Tryon. All classrooms have received a five star rating from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education. (Submitted by Amanda VanDuyne)