Good News About Polk County Public Schools

The 2012 Polk County Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year will be announced Thursday, February 23 at the Lakeland Center, http://www.polk-fl.net/news/newsreleases/012512c.htm.  The media is invited to this invitation-only event which begins at 7:30 p.m. and also is broadcast live on Polk County School Board television-PCSBtv (Bright House channel 614, Comcast channel 7 and Verizon FiOS channel 45), the county commission channel-PGTV (Bright House 622, Comcast 5, Verizon FiOS 20) and the www.polk-fl.net and www.polk-county.net Web sites.

Polk County Public Schools FFA students are preparing for this year’s National FFA Week activities.  National FFA Week is Feb. 18 – 25, and more than 500,000 nationwide members will participate in local, state and national activities.

Polk FFA students will get an early start Friday, Feb. 17 with the Bartow High School Farm Day.  Kindergarten students from Floral Avenue Elementary will experience eight different agricultural stations with hands-on activities such as making butter & ice cream, planting flowers, and a rabbit petting station.  After learning about animals and plants, FFA members will demonstrate whip popping to cap off the event.

Members will participate in poultry judging at the State Fair Saturday, Feb. 18.  Each FFA Chapter can send two teams of four students each to compete in the Florida State Fair poultry judging contest.  Students are selected based upon their interest and knowledge of the poultry industry.

Florida FFA President Charlie Brown will speak at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 for FFA Day at Little Flock Church located at 16891 Rockridge Road in Polk City, FL.

Activities continue Tuesday, Feb. 21 with the FFA Federation Quiz Bowl Competition at 4:00 p.m. in the FFA Center east of Lake Hamilton on Firetower Road.  Students are chosen to represent their chapters based upon their knowledge of the FFA history, functions, and leadership activities including parliamentary procedure.  The students compete in teams of two individuals.  The activity is for all middle and high school FFA members in Polk County.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Frostproof Middle-High School FFA members will host a teacher appreciation breakfast.

Thursday, Feb. 23, Tenoroc High will hold a school farm fair, and Lake Wales will conduct the Greenhand ceremony.  Tenoroc Farm Fair FFA members, along with various agriculture representatives, will set up exhibits in the land-lab.  More than 1,200 local elementary students will visit the land-lab to learn about agriculture.  The Lake Wales FFA Chapter will recognize their first year FFA members that have met the qualifications to earn a Greenhand degree.  The Greenhand degree is the second of the five degrees awarded by the FFA

Several activities are scheduled Friday, Feb. 24:  George Jenkins High will host a faculty appreciation breakfast, Kathleen High will hold their school farm day, Frostproof Middle-High will conduct their Food for America Program and the state officer candidate workshop will be held at the FFA Center.  e The KHS Farm Day is open to Pre-K students to learn about the diversity of the agricultural industry.  KHS is expecting about 175 pre-schoolers to attend from 9 a.m. to noon.

Frostproof Middle-High’s  Food For America program is designed to teach elementary students about the importance of agriculture.  Eight high school students from Frostproof High School will visit Frostproof Elementary and teach lessons about horticulture, livestock, and small animal care.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, Lake Gibson Middle and High schools will hold a barbeque and auction, and the Frostproof FFA alumni will also host a barbeque dinner and auction.  Fertilizer, rolls of hay, gift certificates, farming equipment, plants, and much more will be auctioned.  Barbeque meals will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during a silent auction.  The live auction will start at 1:30 p.m.

Lake Gibson Middle and High schools’ FFA barbeque and auction is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.  Tickets for the pork or chicken dinner with beans, slaw and roll are $8 for adults and $4 for children 10 years old and under.  Slabs of ribs for $20 will also be available.  Fertilizer, rolls of hay, gift certificates, handmade quilts, farming equipment, gift baskets, plants, and much more will be auctioned.  The barbeque and silent auction will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a live auction at 1:30 p.m.

In addition, Lake Gibson High School’s FFA Chapter is sponsoring a peanut butter drive to help VISTE (Volunteers In Service To The Elderly of Polk County) February 21 through March 2.  The FFA is asking all the students and staff of Lake Gibson High to bring in 12 to 16 ounce jars of unopened peanut butter to help restock the VISTE pantry and help the elderly of our community.  Peanut butter is a good source of protein and oil and is easy to store and use.

The Frostproof FFA Alumni dinner and auction is at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary and is open to the public. The Auction includes plants, furnishings, tools, animal supplies and feed, fertilizer, homemade cakes, and much more.  The auction begins at 3 p.m. followed by an $8 barbeque pork dinner from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Polk County’s National FFA Week activities culminate Sunday, Feb. 26 with the FL FFA Leadership Summit at the FFA Center.  For additional information about Polk County FFA activities, contact Workforce Education Teacher Resource Specialist Trainer David Byrd at 863.534.0518 or by e-mail at david.byrd@polk-fl.net.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 540,739 student members – all preparing for leadership in the careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture – as part of 7,489 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.  Visit www.ffa.org for more information.

Lake Gibson Middle School Instructional Television students recently won first place in the Florida Department of Education (DOE) ′Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!′ public service announcement (PSA) contest.

Florida First Lady Ann Scott joined Kevin Smith, DOE Deputy Director of the Office of Early Learning, at the Daytona Speedway for the announcement.  Students created a short announcement geared toward this year's theme: "Take the Lead and Read."  LGMS received $1000 from Florida Education Foundation partners for the winning entry. The winning PSA's will be featured on the Florida Education Channel and local television stations.

Pictured below: Maryjo Costine, Assistant Principal; Wendy Setterberg, ITV Teacher; Jessica Peet, video student; Florida First Lady Ann Scott; Kory Hathcock, video student; Kevin Smith, Deputy Director of Early Learning.

Lake Gibson Middle School PSA producers Jessica Peet and Kory Hathcock.

Ridge Career Center (RCC) student Lindsay Cheek was recently named best speaker of the 2012 Florida Future Educators of America (FFEA) state conference in Orlando.

Five students from RCC attended the annual conference Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, along with Teacher Assisting Instructor Jill DePew.

Ms. DePew said the experience was inspiring.  Competition speeches are presented only to the judges, but those attending the conference did have a chance to hear Cheek speak, DePew noted.

“When her name was called during the Awards Presentation Ceremony,” said DePew, “Lindsay presented the speech to the full FFEA convention room with pride and passion.  She has a gift for public speaking; I sincerely believe this is only the beginning.”

According to FL Department of Education Program Specialist Allyson Adolphson, about 440 students and chapter advisors attended the conference from 51 Florida schools.  During the conference, students compete in seven voluntary competitions: Chapter Display, Chapter PowerPoint, Chapter Public Service, Chapter Spirit, Essay, Lesson Plan and Speech. Students also pick the conference theme for the coming year. ‘Teachers Plant the Seed of Knowledge’ was the 2012 theme.

“Lindsay won first place because of her creativity, eloquence and conviction,” said Adolphson.  “Not only did her speech personify the conference theme, it evoked an emotional response in all who were present.  Lindsay’s words were able to capture the importance of teaching – to impart knowledge but also to impact young lives.”

Along with the competitions at the conference, students also participated in educational workshops and listened to guest speakers.

 FFEA 2012 1^st place winning speech

By: Lindsay Cheek

“Teachers Plant the Seeds of Knowledge.”

I am the warm smile offered on the first day of school. I am the friendly call to your home to make sure everything is all right and to offer any needed help. I am the chalkboard that solves a difficult problem for everyone to see. I am the museum where you fell in love with science. I am the high school play that made you laugh and then made you cry. I am the first book you read because you appreciated literature, not just because it was assigned. I am the patience offered when things just seemed too difficult. I am the vision that looks past the troubles of today and sees the potential of tomorrow. I am the late nights spent studying for finals when you could be at a party. I am the integrity you kept when tempted by others. I am the recognition of a small task that meant the world to you. I am the persistence to keep going and never let life’s trials slow you down. I am the straight “A” report card that is clipped to the front of a refrigerator because someone took the time to study with you after school. I am the trophy that sits proudly upon a mantle because you were told never to give up. I am the diploma that seemed unachievable but through perseverance and faith became a reality.  And I am the satisfaction of knowing you now possess the greatest treasure this world has to offer.

I am the sayings of Confucius. I am the logic of Sir Isaac Newton. And I am the symphony of Beethoven. What am I? I am the seed of knowledge. I was planted in the minds and hearts of every student. And through patience, compassion, and above all, love, I grew and I blossomed into a forest of wisdom. And I was planted by you, a teacher.

Never think that your efforts are in vain. Seasons will come and go, but the knowledge and wisdom you plant in your students will stand the test of time. And never give up on your students for they are our future presidents, inventors, doctors, lawyers, scholar, authors, and teachers.

Please be advised more than one Polk County School Board member will attend the proposed Haines City Step Up Academy’s first governance meeting on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Haines City High School at 9 a.m.  The Haines City Step Up Academy board consists of school leaders, community members, and two Polk County School Board members.

For more information, contact Pat McManus at the Polk County Public Schools District Office at 863.534.0529.

We are excited to announce that Voting for the Polk Academies Design Star T-shirt Competition begins today at 5:00 PM! The contest voting will end on February 16, 2012 at 11:00 PM. Visit http://www.facebook.com/PolkAcademies to vote, “LIKE” Polk Academies Facebook Page while you are there and “SHARE” it with your friends! Voting is permitted for 1 Vote per user, per entry, per day.

DATES & ELGIBILITY:

Start: February 10, 2012 @ 05:00 pm (US/Central)

End: February 16, 2012 @ 11:00 pm (US/Central)

Eligibility: You must be at least 13 years old to enter.

PRIZES:

The Polk Academy with the Winning Design receives:

Pizza Party (up to 25 Students)

25 Tee Shirts of the Winning Design

Winning Design featured on:

1. Polkacademies.com Website

2. Polk Academies Facebook Page

3. Polk County Public Schools Website

RULES:

Facebook fans vote from February 10 - 16, 2012. The design with the most "likes" wins! Preliminary voting has taken place by Polk Academies and images uploaded.

Click on the graphic below for more information!