PCSB Good News Organization Blog Tool

Post on November 20 2009

TIFFANY ELLIS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:43:46 GMT

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Sleepy Hill Middle’s FBLA Award

Lakeland’s Sleepy Hill Middle was one of five Florida middle schools to achieve Entrepreneur Level status in a program of the Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) during the 2008-2009 school year. Sleepy Hill Middle and the four other Florida middle schools achieved the status as a result of their community service, business education instruction and involvement in local FBLA activities and events in the 2008-2009 school year.

Sleepy Hill students involved with helping the school attain Entrepreneur Level status were Abigail Genrich, Felix Jimenez, Shauna Leighton, Charles Litzler, Jacob Rhodes, Antonio Perez, Andrew Simon, Chelsea Strong, Mary Whatley and Bailey White. Melinda Alcox is the Sleepy Hill Middle’s FBLA advisor.

FBLA-PBL is a business education program in middle schools, high schools and post secondary programs for students to develop vocational and career competencies.

Union Academy Student Visits New York As An Art Contest Winner

Kayla Sullivan, a Bartow resident and currently a ninth-grader at Bartow International Baccalaureate, was one of 21 students from seven states to win an Outstanding Artist award in a contest sponsored by the Sargent Art company. She entered the contest in 2008-2009 as a student at Bartow’s Union Academy. Sargent sponsors arts contests for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Sargent is a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer and importer of arts and crafts materials. Kayla visited New York City in the summer of 2009 as a guest of Sargent along with other art contest winners. Their New York trip included visits to art museums and attending a Broadway play.

Her art teacher at Union Academy was Beverly Williams.

Harrison Student Wins National Writing Award

Benjamin Vickers, a Lakeland resident and a junior at Lakeland’s Harrison School for the Arts, won a National Council of Teachers of English Writing Award for his short story, “Trail Blazer.” Trail Blazer was entered in a competition category for creative pieces.

Earlier this school year, Vickers was one of 15 students statewide to win a Florida Council of Teachers of English Writing Award. Four of the 15 statewide winners were from Polk County. Click here to view the names of Polk's four statewide winners.

Vickers’ writing instructor is Lakeland High and Harrison Arts teacher Conni Shelnut.

Post on November 18 2009

TIFFANY ELLIS — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:25:36 GMT

Click Here for a Message from the Superintendent

Post on November 17 2009

TIFFANY ELLIS — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:25:36 GMT

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Fields, Harris Named Board Chair, Vice Chairman

(November 17, 2009) The school board elected Kay Fields, District 5, as school board chair and Tim Harris, District 7, as school board vice chairman at the board’s November 17 meeting. The following are profiles of Ms. Fields and Mr. Harris.

Kay Fields

Kay Fields, a native of McComb, Mississippi, is serving her second four-year term on the School Board. She is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and received a B.S. degree in English/Secondary Education. She is President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Lakeland, an afterschool and all day program when schools are closed for girls in grades K-12. Ms. Fields has served on numerous committees and boards and currently is a member of the Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. Board of Directors (ALPI), the Lakeland Vision Steering Committee as well as chairing the Quality of Life Foundation Team. She is also a member of the United Way Agency Director's Council. Ms. Fields is a member of Without Walls Central Church.

Her term expires November 15, 2010.

Tim Harris

Tim Harris began his service on the School Board in 2006 . He is a native of Greenville, SC, moving to Polk County in 1972 to attend college. He holds a B.A. in Secondary Education and History from Southeastern University (1975) and a Master’s Degree in teaching Social Studies from Rollins College (1978).

He currently is the Operations Manager and majority owner of Sign PostMan, LLC. Sign PostMan builds, rents, and installs sign posts, as well as storing sign panels for the real estate industry. In addition, he is a partner in the real estate investment firm, The Gaylord Group, LLC.

Previously, Mr. Harris taught in Polk Public Schools from 1975 until 1994, working afterwards as a contract administrator and teacher resource specialist. From 1998 to 2006, he designed and coordinated annual follow-up surveys of Polk County graduates.

He is a member of the Lakeland Chamber’s Leadership Lakeland Class XXVI. Mr. Harris currently serves on the Board of Directors of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union and the Associated Marine Institute (AMI) – Lakeland. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Harris previously served on the boards of Lakeland Regional Medical Center and the Polk Education Foundation.

He also has experience in dealing with growth issues as a result of his many years of residential property management and service on local planning and zoning boards, as well as his experience in both the academic and career (vocational) education arenas.

His term expires November 15, 2010.

Lena Vista, Kathleen Elementary Fundraisers Benefit Community, School

Lena Vista Elementary

Students and staff at Auburndale’s Lena Vista Elementary recently raised and donated $1,115.68 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Lena Vista has done fundraising on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for nine years and has topped the $1,000 mark each of the nine times. The class of 5th grade teacher Hunter Williams raised more than $200 and received an Olive Garden luncheon as the school’s top fundraising class.

Kathleen Elementary

Kathleen Elementary’s annual Walk-a-thon held in October raised more than $2,500. The Walk-a-thon had a baseball theme as parents, students, community and business partners continuously walked the baseball diamond bases on the school’s physical education field. Walkers solicited donations to fund activities and resources not covered by tax dollars—family nights, field trips, educational assemblies, additional instructional resources, materials and equipment.

Tenoroc High

The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 28 of Lakeland recently donated an American flag to Lakeland’s Tenoroc High.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:09:47 GMT

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Special Needs Workshops

Three groups have partnered to offer free workshops for parents and guardians of students with disabilities. The workshops are coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic Learning Resources System (FDLRS), the Exceptional Student Education Department of the Polk Public Schools and the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida. The workshop schedule and topic summary is listed below.

All workshops will be held in the Exceptional Student Education building of the Polk Public Schools, located on 2nd Street in the Bartow Municipal Airport off of U.S. 17. To register or for more information call (863) 647-4258 or click here to email.

Thursday, December 3, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Strategies for Class/Homework and Social Skills for Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome: This workshop identifies characteristics commonly exhibited with Asperger’s and introduces strategies from research, field experts and Asperger’s diagnosis to assist individuals with challenges in academic and social situations.

Thursday, December 10, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Transitioning from School Age to Adulthood: This workshop identifies critical resources, methods and locations providing transition assistance. Role of the parent, community agencies and schools will be discussed.

Adult School Graduation

The public is invited to the fall Adult School Graduation to be held 6:30 p.m., Monday, December 14 in the Fine Arts Auditorium of Polk State College, 999 Avenue H NE, Winter Haven.

This graduation includes students from Auburndale’s East Area Adult School, Lakeland’s West Area Adult School and GED programs.

Information: (863) 519-8437.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:45:45 GMT

Summerlin, Lawton Chiles Take Top Places In State Language, Stock Market Competitions

Bartow's Summerlin Academy hosted the 2009 Florida Chinese Language Competition and finished in second place among 16 statewide schools competing. In the competition, students test their abilities in speaking, reading and writing Chinese. A total of 127 students competed and 18 Summerlin cadets received ratings of superior, outstanding or excellent in various levels of the competition.

Summerlin Academy is a public military high school and is a school of choice with students enrolled from all parts of Polk County. The school's world languages curriculum includes instruction in Chinese.

Summerlin cadets receiving ratings of superior, outstanding or excellent in the state Chinese Language Competition are listed with residences in parentheses:

Lorne Baker (Mulberry), Calvin Clarke (Polk City), Juan Disla (Winter Haven), Jeff Furnish (Winter Haven), Carrie Goad (Mulberry), David Guffey (Winter Haven), Justin Henry (Lakeland), Anugraha James (Lakeland), Marc Julia (Bartow), Taina Julia (Bartow), Lacey Kramer (Winter Haven), Cynthia Owens (Fort Meade), John Parks (Lakeland), Anthony Paz (Winter Haven), Faith Raymond (Winter Haven), Barrett Sathianathan (Bartow), Jacky Tran (Lakeland) and Jay Troughton (Frostproof).

Lawton Chiles Middle's Wizards of Wall Street

A team of students from Lakeland's Lawton Chiles Middle won first place in a regional competition of the 2008-2009 Florida Stock Market Challenge, a competition coordinated by the Florida Council of Economic Education. In the competition, students learn to buy and sell shares of stock over a period of time. Portfolios are managed by schools and student teams are ranked. Learning from the Stock Market Challenge is integrated into the subject areas of social studies, mathematics and language arts.

Lawton Chiles finished in first place in the middle school division of Florida's central region. Middle schools from Avon Park and Apopka finished in second and third place respectively. Regina Cobb was Lawton Chiles Middle’s Stock Market Challenge advisor.

Lawton Chiles Middle's Stock Market Challenge team members were: Landon Beck, Trinity Baxter, Hamilton Cable, Ryan Claussen, Cameron Cobb, Adrielle Conner, Caryn Ford, Kyle Goodwin, Lindsay Grant, John Griffiths, Shaquille Hewitt, Larry Laster, Caroline McKendrick, Dustin Mercer, Carly Monroe, Ryan Morse, Jonathan Niblack, Michael Ray, Timothy Simmons, Matthew Sotomayor, Mausam Trivedi, Errol Tucker, Erin Welch, Tyrisha Williams, Alexa Willis, Andrew Woodard.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:42:32 GMT

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

Lake Region, McLaughlin Teachers Honored By Farm Bureau

Teachers from Eagle Lake’s Lake Region High and Lake Wales’ McLaughlin Middle and Fine Arts Academy were honored by the Polk County Farm Bureau at the organization’s 67th Annual Membership meeting held in October.

Lake Region High’s agriculture program, under the direction of teachers Brandi Fountain and Peter Gordon, was named 2009 Outstanding Agriculture Program. Lake Region’s agriculture focus areas are citrus, equine science and agriculture mechanics. The agriculture program’s main source of funding is the school’s citrus grove which is maintained by students. Maintenance includes mowing, fertilizing and herbicide application. Students in the agriculture program are also caretakers for the school’s mascot, “Thunder,” a Spanish Arabian horse. Students gain experience in handling, feeding and grooming a horse. The school’s agriculture mechanics program includes instruction in welding fabrication, engine repair, maintenance and equipment operation. Lake Region High has an active FFA chapter and many LRHS students have received state and national FFA degrees.

Milton Bryan, teacher at Lake Wales’ McLaughlin Middle And Fine Arts Academy, was named the Farm Bureau’s 2009 Outstanding Agriculture Teacher. Milton has taught at Zephryhills Junior-Senior High in Pasco County, his alma mater Bartow High and Lake Wales High. He retired from Lake Wales High in 2007 but returned to teaching at McLaughlin Middle And Fine Arts Academy.

The Farm Bureau said Milton is a positive role model and teaches in a way that develops student self-esteem and potential. He instills a “do whatever it takes attitude” to help his students and incorporates character-building into his instruction.

Lake Marion Creek Network Manager Is Part Of Education Technology Leadership Council

Thomas Turner, computer network manager at Poinciana’s Lake Marion Creek School, was one of 61 national participants in the 2009 Discovery Educator Network Leadership Council Symposium held in Silver Spring, Md. The event was hosted by Discovery Communications whose television networks include the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and the Science Channel.

Turner is a member of the Florida Discovery Educator Network Leadership Council. He is involved in supporting educators’ efforts to integrate technology and digital content into curriculum through professional development workshops, networking events and communications on emerging technology and best practices. The Council also acts as a clearinghouse on Florida education issues and assists teachers with implementing high-tech tools to bolster student achievement.

Turner and other symposium participants learned new leadership strategies and presentation methods to encourage and support their peers as they work to engage the latest educational technologies into classroom activities. Turner networked with other members of Leadership Councils from across the country, sharing ideas and best practices to help peers improve student achievement.

“I’m impressed by the passion and professionalism that Tom brings to this task,” said Discovery Education Director Lance Rougeux. “I have no doubt the educators and students in the Polk County Public Schools and throughout Florida will benefit from his devotion.”

Finalists, Nominees For 2009 PRISM Exemplary Math And Science Teacher Awards

Four Polk teachers were named finalists for an award in science or mathematics instruction as part of a program of the Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition (CFPSBC). PRISM, an acronym for Promoting Regional Improvement in Science and Mathematics, is a project of the CFPSBC and coordinates the PRISM Exemplary Mathematics and Science Teacher Awards in the ten-county region that makes up the CFPSBC.

At a September 14 event held at Lakeland’s Southeastern University, four Polk teachers were named finalists for the regional award and will participate in a September 24 event at Sea World with finalists from the other nine counties in the CFPSBC. In addition to Polk, the CFPSBC is composed of school districts in the following counties: Brevard, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.

Polk’s four finalists for the regional award are Christina Cambronero (Haines City High), Michelle DiGioia (Lakeland’s Lawton Chiles Middle Academy), Nicole McClain (Lake Wales’ Janie Howard Wilson Elementary) and Caroline Power (Lakeland’s Dixieland Elementary).

Cambronero, DiGioia, McClain and Power were named finalists at the September 14 event among 28 nominees from Polk. Nominees for the regional PRISM Exemplary Mathematics and Science Teacher Awards are listed by community and school.

Auburndale
Stambaugh Middle: Natalie Pitts

Babson Park
Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary: Jason Brewer

Dundee
Dundee Elementary: Jessica Palomaki

Eagle Lake
Lake Region High: Angela Chapman

Frostproof
Frostproof Middle-Senior: Nancy Cannon, Kathryn Keller

Haines City
Haines City High: Jamie Gillmartin

Lake Wales
Bok Middle: Leanne Thrift
Janie Howard Wilson Elementary: Holly Madore
Hillcrest Elementary: Anna Powell

Lakeland
Blake Academy: Stacy Erickson, Laura Gipson
George Jenkins High: James Dunne
Lake Gibson High: Rozalia Muhlhan, Kelly Rogers
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy: Susan Leroy
McKeel Academy: Dana Lang, Carolyn Orr
Tenoroc High: Deborah Jones
Valleyview Elementary: Marjorie Caron, Maggie Miller
Wendell Watson Elementary: Wendy Nations

Poinciana
Palmetto Elementary: Theodore Eldridge, Jennifer Longley

PRISM has an objective of producing math and science scholars from the nine counties that make-up the CFPSBC. As a way of reaching this objective, PRISM and CFPSBC are working to support recruiting, developing and retaining teachers in science and mathematics.

Contact Rebecca Braaten, Polk schools curriculum coordinator, at (863) 534-0632 for further information on PRISM or the PRISM Exemplary Mathematics and Science Teacher Awards.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:58:31 GMT

Click Here for the Polk County Public Schools Hall of Fame Nomination Form!

22 Teachers Represent Polk In Washington, D.C. Professional Development Event

Twenty-two Polk teachers participated in a week-long professional development event in Washington, D.C. over the summer of 2009 as part of the school district’s Teaching American History Grant award.

The grant is used to enhance the teaching of American History and strategies include field studies for teachers. The teachers’ itinerary in Washington D.C. included a meeting with U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Bartow), and learning events at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Museum, various Washington, D.C. monuments and the Arlington National Cemetery. Teachers also participated in a National Center for History Education Colloquium held in Washington over the week. Teacher knowledge gained from the various activities will be brought back to the classroom and incorporated into instruction.

Teacher participation in the summer event was part of a three-year federal grant that was originally awarded to the school district in 2006 and scheduled to end in 2009. The grant period was extended this summer from July 15, 2009 to July 14, 2012 in the amount of $998,640.

Teachers participating in the summer 2009 event are listed according to school. They were accompanied by Rozy Scott, manager of the school district’s Teaching American History grant.

Bartow
Bartow Middle: Jennifer Germany, Nicole Maassen
Bartow High: Ted Wright

Eagle Lake
Lake Region High: Robert Pobjecky, Robin Rawlins

Haines City
Daniel Jenkins Academy: Melissa Robertson
Haines City High: Cassie Gibson

Frostproof
Frostproof Middle-Senior: Deanna Jaroszeski

Lake Alfred
Discovery Academy: Dave Klippel

Lake Wales
McLaughlin Middle And Fine Arts Academy: Barbara Fowler

Lakeland
Kathleen High: Pat McLarty
Lawton Chiles Middle: Marsha Yoder
McKeel Academy: Heather Wasemann
Sleepy Hill Middle: James Larrow
Traviss Career Center: Melanie Harden

Mulberry
Mulberry High: Alisa Blaauw
Mulberry Middle: Kim Cruz, Michelle Hubenschmidt, Mike Watson

Winter Haven
Jewett Middle Academy: Delphine Kendrick
Westwood Middle: Carlos Leiva, Anne Stemmerman
Winter Haven High: Bill Woolwine

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:55:13 GMT

Click Here to See the Bay News 9 piece featuring Gary Wang! Gary Wang, a Winter Haven resident who was a sixth grader at Jewett Middle Academy. 2009 was the third time in the last four years that Gary recorded perfect scores in both reading and math. Gary did it as a third grader in 2006 at Winter Haven’s Garner Elementary and again... as fourth grader in 2007 at Garner. Gary is the only current Polk student on record to have achieved 500 FCAT scores in reading and math more than once.Gary did it as a third grader in 2006 at Winter Haven’s Garner Elementary and again as fourth grader in 2007 at Garner. Gary is the only current Polk student on record to have achieved 500 FCAT scores in reading and math more than once.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:24:05 GMT

Nominate Someone into the Polk County Schools Hall of Fame. Click Here To Play Video: Call 863-534-0698 for Infomation!

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:11:05 GMT

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Middle School Art Show

The artwork of Polk middle school students will be featured at the Polk Museum of Art from November 24 to January 3. The title of the show is “Art Out Loud: Middle Schools Exhibition.” The Polk Museum of Art is located at 800 East Palmetto St., Lakeland. The show will be displayed during normal museum hours and the museum’s standard admission fees apply. Information: (863) 647-4727.

Sales Tax Oversight Committee Meeting

The public is invited to a Tuesday, December 1 sales tax oversight committee meeting held at the school district administrative office , 1915 South Floral Avenue, Bartow. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the facilities conference room. The sales tax oversight committee, composed of community members, was formed by the school district after voters approved a 2003 referendum authorizing an additional 1/2-cent sales tax for school construction. Contact Larry Helton, school district director of planning and concurrency, at (863) 519-7562 for further information on the meeting or the sales tax oversight committee.

Polk Life & Learning Country Store And Craft Sale Fundraiser

Polk Life & Learning, a public school in Bartow serving special needs students throughout Polk County, holds its 21st Annual Country Store and Craft Sale fundraiser on Thursday, December 3, Friday, December 4 and Friday, December 5.

The public is invited and the event includes a rummage sale, plant sale, arts and crafts, a chicken dinner and silent auction. The event is noon to 4 p.m on December 3 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 4. The chicken dinner costs $5 and is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4 and includes baked beans, cole slaw and Texas toast. Drinks and desserts are extra. Take out is available. The rummage sale is the only Saturday event and begins at 8 a.m. on December 5. The silent auction includes restaurant certificates, theme park passes and Florida sports teams events. Click here to make an online bid for silent auction items.

Polk Life & Learning is located at 1130 South Floral Avenue, Bartow. The Country Store and Craft sale fundraiser is used to enhance resources and curriculum. Information: (863) 534-7440.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:13 GMT

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Robotics Technology Competition Results, National Family And Consumer Sciences Event

LEGO League Robotics Tournament

Lakeland’s Crystal Lake Middle, Lakeland’s Rochelle School of the Arts and Auburndale’s Stambaugh Middle took top honors at the 2009 Polk County LEGO League Robotics Tournament. Approximately 120 students from 15 middle schools competed by designing, building and programming robots using LEGO bricks, motors, gears and software. Middle school teams used robotics in the tourney to understand and create solutions for climate sustainability. Students programmed robots to simulate the burying of carbon dioxide, testing levees or insulating a house.

Rochelle School of the Arts won both the Robot Design Award and Champion’s Award at the event. Crystal Lake Middle won the Robot Performance Award and Stambaugh Middle won the Teamwork Award.

Each school’s 2009 team members are listed below with the school’s LEGO League Robotics advisor listed in parentheses.

Crystal Lake Middle (Mark Schuh): Daniel Arcila, Quentin Cole, Irene Faustino, Nicholas Garcia, Treach Harris, Vidaliel Hernandez, Chelsie Robinson, Quincey Sullivan, Sam Van Duyn.

Rochelle School of the Arts (Michael Schweim): Kiara Abram, Carlos Aleman, Delaney Browning, Megan Killingsworth, Adam Maffett, Maria Probasco, Tessa Register.

Stambaugh Middle (Jane Germany): Kelsey Ashbrook, Branden Beebe, Yesenia Colon, Coral Nolan, Daniel Norrell, Richard Pena.

Family, Career And Community Leaders of America National Conference

Students from five Polk schools won medals or recognitions at the 2009 National Leadership Conference of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America organization (FCCLA) held in Nashville. FCCLA is a national career and technical student organization in family and consumer sciences education.

Student winning medals or recognitions are listed by school with the school’s FCCLA advisor listed in parentheses. Students are listed with medal or recognition and competition category.

George Jenkins High-Lakeland(Merri Elson): Beth Darby, silver medal, applied technology.

Lake Gibson High-Lakeland (Christa Parker): Erin McCarthy, state historian officer.

Lake Gibson Middle-Lakeland (Penny LaFountain): team of Maddison Hall, Sebrina Serrano and Valentina Valenzuela, silver medals, chapter showcase manual; team of Tait Jones, Taylor Jones, silver medals, chapter service project manual; team of Danielle Galipeau, Erica Schaaf, silver medals, applied technology; Wendy Jones, silver medal, life event planning; Jessica Roberts, vice president for junior relations state officer.

Lake Region High-Eagle Lake (Cindy Reynolds): Lauren Reynolds, silver medal, illustrated talk;

Winter Haven High (Patti Winniczuk): team of Catherine Bice, Shannon Addington, gold medal, chapter service project manual.

Good News About Polk County Public Schools

TIFFANY ELLIS — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:25:45 GMT

Davenport Teacher Receives $1,200 In School Supplies In Surprise Visit

Andrea Peters, a teacher at Davenport School of the Arts, was one of 1,100 teachers nationally who were honored October 6 in a surprise ceremony orchestrated by the OfficeMax company.

OfficeMax and the Adopt-A-Classroom organization created "A Day Made Better" where OfficeMax representatives simultaneously surprised 1,100 teachers from all over the country and donated $1,200 of school supplies to each teacher. Click here for more information on "A Day Made Better". The company's Web site says teachers spend an average of $1,000 of their own money on classroom supplies and A Day Made Better is an attempt to bring awareness to their needs.

Peters was nominated for the award by the school based on the following:

She volunteers extra hours before and after school on behalf of all the school's students
She is active in tutoring students requiring extra help and support
Her development of the school's graphic arts curriculum
Andrea also organizes the school's in-house television channel, training and teaching the school's student anchors, reporters, producers, directors and camera videojournalists

32 Schools Named Five Star By State, Most Ever In Program History

A record number of Polk schools were named Five Star Schools by the Florida Department of Education. They were honored for their family and community involvement. Four Polk schools have been named Five Star for 13 consecutive years while five others earned the honor for the first time. Three schools located on one campus also received the honor. Click here to view the list of Five Star schools and other Five Star statistics.

Twenty-Eight Students Achieve FCAT Perfection

Twenty-eight students achieving perfection on the reading and math portions of the 2008-2009 FCAT tests will be among those honored at a school district special event on November 10.

These 28 students achieved the highest possible scores of 500 on both the reading and mathematics portions of the tests administered in March 2009. More than 55,000 Polk students in grades three through ten took the tests. These students with 500 on both the reading and math portions represent approximately .0005 percent of the total number taking the tests.

Included on this list is Gary Wang, a Winter Haven resident who was a sixth grader at Jewett Middle Academy. 2009 was the third time in the last four years that Gary recorded perfect scores in both reading and math. Gary did it as a third grader in 2006 at Winter Haven’s Garner Elementary and again as fourth grader in 2007 at Garner. Gary is the only current Polk student on record to have achieved 500 FCAT scores in reading and math more than once.

The following list is 28 Polk students with perfect FCAT reading and math scores from 2008-2009 testing. They are listed according to school where they took the tests last year. Any schools listed in parentheses after a student’s name is the school they are attending in 2009-2010.

Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary-Frostproof: Balen Hegarty, Isaac Lightsey
Brigham Academy-Winter Haven: Emily Hutchinson
Carlton Palmore Elementary-Lakeland: Rachel Gould
Cleveland Court Elementary-Lakeland: Lindsey Kim
Davenport School of the Arts: Ka-Yen Yau
Jewett Middle Academy-Winter Haven: Gary Wang
Jewett School of the Arts-Winter Haven: Aslyn Mattson
Lake Gibson Middle-Lakeland: Caleb Brady
Lakeland Highlands Middle: Hope Grimes, Ashley Valdez
Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary-Fort Meade: Shelby Pierce
Lincoln Avenue Academy-Lakeland: Alana Jones, Emma Schindler
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy: Sujaya Rajguru, Abhinav Venigalla, Tom Zhang (currently attending Bartow International Baccalaureate)
McKeel Elementary-Lakeland: Kylie Bridges, Andrew Brown
Mulberry Middle: Josue Guerrero
Palmetto Elementary-Poinciana: Kailie Figueroa
Philip O’Brien Elementary-Lakeland: Mark Stoughton
Scott Lake Elementary-Lakeland: Alexander Manning, Zachary Urillo
Southwest Elementary-Lakeland: Matthew Clere, Hannah Townley
Southwest Middle-Lakeland: Breanna Langley
Valleyview Elementary: Madelyn Graham (currently attending Spessard Holland Elementary-Bartow).