Polk County Public Schools
The Polk County Career and Adult Educators Association holds its annual showcase of career, technical, vocational and adult education programs on Thursday, April 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the mall circle of the Lakeside Village Mall at the intersection of Harden Boulevard and Polk Parkway, Lakeland.
The public is invited and there is no charge to attend as middle schools, high schools and adult education programs will demonstrate and provide information about their programs in nursing assisting, optometric assisting and other disciplines. The event includes free health screenings from nursing and optometric students. There will also be free massages and manicures from students in massage therapy and nails specialty. Students in automotive technology programs will also display a vehicle showcasing their work with alternative fuels and fuel efficient vehicles.
Information: George Milliken, (863) 499-2700.
A team of public and private school students representing Polk County will compete in an academic tournament against other counties at the Commissioner’s Academic Challenge to be held April 10 to 12. Academic teams representing Florida counties will compete in the Challenge held at the Disney World Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista.
The public is invited to the Academic Challenge and there is no charge to attend the competition. The competition schedule: Thursday, April 10, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Polk’s team is composed of Mark Kavesh (Bartow International Baccalaureate), Christopher Lioi (Bartow International Baccalaureate), Spencer Phillips (Lakeland High), Cory Pollard (All Saints’ Academy), Matthew Stoia (All Saints’ Academy) and Elizabeth Young (Harrison School for the Arts). Bartow High teachers Peggy Frisbie and Chris Guice are the team’s coaches.
Teams will test their knowledge in mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, foreign languages, technology, fine arts and humanities.
Polk is the defending state champion in the competition among the largest school districts. 2007 was Polk’s first state championship in the Academic Challenge since 1989. Polk was state runner-up in 2004 and 2002 and the third place team in 2005.
Information: Peggy Harrod, (863) 968-5168 or Peggy Frisbie, (863) 534-7400