Polk County Public Schools
Three Polk public schools will share $28,000 in grant money from the Walt Disney World Teacherrific program.
Crystal Lake Elementary and Jesse Keen Elementary, both in Lakeland, and Laurel Elementary in Poinciana were named 2008 Teacherrific grant recipients and will use the funds to expand an innovative program to help ease the kindergarten transition for students at three elementary schools where a need has been identified.
Teacherrific provided approximately $196,000 to unique educational programs submitted by school districts to foster healthy educational development. The funding will help to support a range of projects including kindergarten readiness, reading skills, math and science instruction in Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties.
The program submitted by Polk is called “I’m Going to be a Kindergartener” and will be a one-week program for kindergarteners at Crystal Lake, Jesse Keen and Laurel prior to the first day of school. Kindergarteners will spend half-day sessions with their assigned teachers and learn routines and protocols of classes, cafeterias, school corridors and buses. Teachers will also be able to assess the kindergarteners social and motor skills and speech and language development.
The focus is to acclimate kindergarteners and for teachers to be aware of students’ needs and development prior to the start of school.
“I’m Going to be a Kindergartener” was a pilot program in a Polk school and Crystal Lake, Jesse Keen and Laurel were chosen for expansion of the program using the Disney funds. Each of the schools is a Title I site serving a high-need population and many of their students score low in “kindergarten readiness” testing.
Judge Beth Harlan, a county judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, visited Bartow’s Polk Life and Learning Center in Bartow as part of national Constitution Day on September 17.
Following courtroom protocol, Polk Life & Learning students stood out of respect when Judge Harlan entered the school’s presentation room in her judge’s robe. Students learned about the judicial process, different types of courts and consequences to violations and disobedience to laws. Students asked questions about her career and various points of the law. Through Judge Harlan’s visit, Polk Life and Learning students gained a better understanding of the constitution and Constitution Day.
Polk Life and Learning Center is a school serving special needs students from various parts of Polk County.