Good News About Polk County Public Schools

Donald E. Woods Recruits Role Model from Ft. Myers

 In an effort to enlighten alternative education students on attitudes and aptitudes necessary for the workforce beyond high school, Donald E. Woods Opportunity Center developed a program called “Understanding Myself/Understanding My Environment.” The program calls for community volunteers to visit, inform and present students with information that will help them succeed now and into the future.  

 Lileah Porter, daughter of Gwendolyn Porter – Guidance Counselor and co-developer with Lana McCullough, Social Worker, recently assisted students using the Media Center. Lileah Porter is a Senior Recruiter for Chico’s Corporation in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Brooklynn F. a 5th grader at Cleveland Court Elementary won second place in an essay contest sponsored by the Estates at Carpenters. The subject of the essay was the students favorite senior adult. The Estates at Carpenters is a retirement community located in the city of Lakeland.

Polk County Public Schools’ students competed in the state FFA Aquaculture Career Development Event (CDE) held at the University of Florida’s School of Forest Resources & Conservation Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin.  The event consisted of team activities, individual written exams, and an individual problem solving practicum in the following areas: species identification and selection, anatomy/physiology, and system design and troubleshooting.

Below is a list of the top five winning teams and individuals at the high school and middle school level from Polk County Public Schools:

High School-Teams
1^st place - Kathleen High

High School-Individuals
2^nd place - Brevyn F. (Kathleen High)
4^th place -Alec D. (Kathleen High)
5^th place - Kyle P. (Kathleen High)

Middle School-Teams
1^st place - Crystal Lake Middle
3^rd place - Dundee Ridge Middle
                                                           
Middle School-Individuals
1^st place - Luke T. (Crystal Lake Middle)
2^nd place - Austin B. (Stambaugh Middle)
3^rd place - Kaley M. (Crystal Lake Middle)
5^th place - Sofia B. (Dundee Ridge Middle)

The Florida Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association is a premier youth, leadership organization with over 15,000 middle and high school student members – as part of over 300 local FFA chapters across the state.  FFA members participate in nearly 50 leadership and career development events each year.

Members of the Spessard L. Holland Elementary choir were recently given a chance of a lifetime when they were given an opportunity to perform at Downtown Disney Village on Wednesday, May 29. Under the direction of Mr. Luis Rios, music teacher, and Mr. Adam Hippeli, fifth grade teacher, the “Spessard Singers” performed renditions of popular songs such as Philip Phillips’ “Home” and Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Song of Peace.” The singers had to audition before hand and then were invited to perform.

Choir members include: Emily G., Victoria L., Marisol M, Chloe J., Johanna C., Ryan M., Mackenzie L., Danielle S., Omar C., Hannah L., Hunter H., Gabriel F., Erisa N., Lucy M., Rhiannon Q., Robby P., Sophia C., Jasmin V., Eowyn S., Cassie W., Taylor S., ZaHrea’ T., Pashence A., Mackenzie M., Xander A., Joshua B., Veronica D., Jillian H., Jacob L., Kylie T., Jay W., Erum K., Alexis T., Zaniya S., Tyshonne T., and Brianna S.

Other Polk County Public Schools also had the opportunity to perform at Disney in May and June.

Below is a listing of schools.

Southwest Middle’s Band

Davenport School of the Arts’ Chorus

Winter Haven High’s Chorus

Sleepy Hill Middle’s Chorus

Southwest Middle’s Chorus

McLaughlin Middle’s Chorus

Winter Haven High’s Orchestra

Tenoroc High’s Marching Band

Boone Middle’s Chorus

Denison Middle’s Band

Bartow Middle’s Orchestra

Lakeland High’s Marching Band

Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary’s Chorus

Snively Elementary’s Chorus

Jewett Middle Academy’s Band

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy’s Band

Lake Gibson Middle’s Orchestra
Lake Gibson High’s Orchestra 
Kathleen High’s Orchestra

Union Academy’s Chorus

Mulberry High’s Marching Band

McLaughlin Middle’s Band

Union Academy’s Band

Lakeland Highlands Middle’s Chorus

Blake Academy’s Band

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy’s Chorus/Orchestra

Caldwell Elementary’s Chorus

Lake Gibson High’s Band

Mulberry Middle’s Band

Lakeland Highlands Middle’s Band

Daniel Jenkins Middle Academy’s Band

Jewett School of the Arts/Jewett Middle Academy’s Orchestra 

Bartow High’s Jazz Band

Dixieland Elementary Chorus

Rochelle School of the Arts’ Orchestra

Lake Region High/Westwood Middle’s Orchestra

Mulberry High’s Orchestra

Mulberry Middle’s Orchestra

Rochelle School of the Arts’ Band

Lake Gibson Middle’s Chorus

Carlton Palmore Elementary’s Chorus

Mulberry Middle’s Chorus

Stephens Elementary’s Chorus 

Westwood Middle’s Band

I-SWEEP

Andrew N. (Bartow High IB) was one of only a handful of students named a bronze medal winner when he competed at I-SWEEP (International Sustainable World Energy Engineering Environment Project Olympiad) held in Houston in May. The international science fair focuses on energy, engineering, and environment projects that are centered on looking for alternative solutions for a sustainable world. Andrew’s project was titled “Concentrated Solar: Creating an Improved Energy System.”  I-SWEEP’s mission is to spark interest and awareness on our planet’s sustainability challenges.

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

Annika M. (Bartow High IB) and Summer M. (Polk State College Lakeland Collegiate High) represented Polk County Public Schools at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Phoenix in May. Both students were chosen after winning top prizes at district and state science fairs.

The world’s largest high school science research competition welcomes students from around the globe to compete for top prizes. This year, approximately 1,600 young scientists were chosen, after being selected from 433 affiliate fairs in more than 70 countries, regions and territories.

Annika M. was one of nearly 25 students chosen to receive an Academic Excellence Scholarship from West Virginia University for her presentation of research and an academic aptitude that aligns with WVU’s institutional goals and research interests. Her project entitled “Screening of Novel Drugs for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease” garnered her the renewable tuition scholarship award.

Summer M. received a $1,000 award in the microbiology category for her project entitled “Advanced Design Field Combat and Burn Bandage using Antimicrobial Copper and Bio Inhibitor Film.” She was one of only six students who received the 3^rd place award.

The event is owned and administered by the Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education. The first International Science and Engineering Fair was held in 1950.

Dozens of graduates of Polk high schools were honored at the Annual Minority Achievement Awards held on Monday, May 13 at the Branscomb Auditorium at Florida Southern College. The event honored minority students who achieved a 3.5 grade point average or above in regular education classes. The ceremony also included the naming of each school’s minority graduate with the highest GPA and each school’s “most improved” minority graduate, a graduate who makes significant academic gains from their freshman year to their senior year.

The event was organized and coordinated by the Minority Achievement Program committee of Polk County Public Schools.

The honorees are listed below with the names of the schools attended in parenthesis:

Nicolas Del Castillo (Auburndale High);

Joseph T. (Bartow High);

Niraj V. (Bartow IB);

Shannon A. (Chain of Lakes Collegiate High);

Abel A. (Fort Meade High);

Tiara G. (Frostproof Middle Senior);

Laura G. (George Jenkins High);

Kayla J. (Haines City High);

Esther O. (Haines City High IB);

Alejandro L. (Harrison School for the Arts);

Kiara R. (Kathleen High);

Rajean A. (Lake Gibson High);

Maribel R. (Lake Region High);

Jocelyn Denise S. (Lake Wales High);

Carlos A. (Lakeland High);

Christopher A. (Mulberry High);

Tier Marie B.;

Symone R. (Ridge Community High);

Alexandra Rachel C. (Summerlin Academy);

Jennifer A. (Tenoroc High);

Alex Joseph V. (Winter Haven High).

Polk County Public Schools’ students are participating in Talon Robotics at Polk State College Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses. The camps are geared towards middle school and high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). As part of the program, students use LEGO and VEX Robotics and technology to gain a better understanding of the STEM curriculum. 

Do you want your child to participate? The middle school program starts Wednesday, June 12, parents have until Friday, June 14 to register their child. At the middle school level, there is a $35 registration fee. The program cost is $360; however, there are need based scholarships available. 

High school students have until Monday, June 17 to register for the ‘Technobots’ program which begins on Monday, June 17. As a result of a grant funded by AT&T, high school students will only be responsible for paying a $35 registration fee. The grant will cover the $360 program cost.

Middle school students will participate in “Eaglebots” where they will learn about robotic concepts with the incorporation of competitions and field trips. The high school “Technobotics” program will include instruction in robotics in addition to a plethora of hands-on, problem-based activities aimed at designing and building robots using the VEX Building System.

 Talon Robotics is a joint project between Polk State College and Polk County Public Schools. Officials at both institutions recognized the need for specialized summer enrichment programs that would provide interdisciplinary, STEM learning experiences for students to keep students engaged in the learning process through hands on, active learning.

To register for the programs visit: http://www.polk.edu/kids-at-college/register/ (Need help? Watch the registration video. Must have Windows Media Player plug-in to view)