Polk County Public Schools
The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FLDRS) and the school district’s Department of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) are seeking volunteers for a surrogate parent program.
A surrogate parent acts as an educational advocate for a special needs student requiring ESE services. This volunteer position includes making informed decisions about a child’s educational needs, attending meetings and monitoring programs much like a parent or guardian would.
The surrogate will receive free, appropriate training to act in the place of a parent or guardian. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires surrogate parent representation for students with disabilities without a parent or guardian.
Contact Laura Taft of FLDRS at (863) 647-4258 for information about volunteering for the surrogate parent program and necessary qualifications.
The Polk Museum of Art will host the 12th Congressional District Creative Youth Art Show from Tuesday, March 9 to Sunday, April 11. Art displayed is the best work of high school students in Florida’s 12th Congressional District. One piece of art will be chosen to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. The Polk Museum of Art is located at 800 East Palmetto Street, Lakeland. The art will be displayed during regular museum hours and standard museum admission fees apply. Information: (863) 647- 4727.
The public is invited to fifth grade and middle school academic competitions to be held Tuesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 25. All rounds of these academic competitions, known as E-Team Tournaments because many of the questions are economics related, are free to attend.
Thirty-two middle schools will compete in the opening round of the middle school tourney on Tuesday, March 23 in Sikes Hall at the Lakeland Center, 701 West Lime Street. The competition is 4 to 6:30 p.m., March 23. Six middle schools from the opening round advance to the finals on March 25.
On Thursday, March 25 the finals of the fifth grade tourney will be held at 1 p.m. in the auditorium of the LTB building on the campus of USF-Polytechnic, 3433 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland. Six teams have qualified for the fifth grade finals: Bartow Elementary Academy, Brigham Academy(Winter Haven), Cleveland Court Elementary (Lakeland), Lake Marion Creek Elementary (Poinciana), Palmetto Elementary (Poinciana) and Valleyview Elementary (Lakeland).
At 4 p.m. Thursday, March 25 the finals of the middle school tourney will also be held in the auditorium of the LTB building on the campus of USF-Polytechnic.
Contact the academic competitions department at (863) 968-5168 for further information on the tourneys.
