A historical marker designating Kathleen Middle School as a Polk County Heritage Site was installed this week at the school, which opened in 1928 as Kathleen School. In its early years, the school served students in grades 1 to 12, extending education in the Kathleen community past the eight grade for the first time.
Category: Schools
Posted inSchools
Committees: Retain ‘Drama’ and ‘Kite Runner’ in Middle and High School Libraries
The books “Drama” by Raina Telgemeier and “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini should be retained in libraries of Polk public middle and high schools, two advisory committees voted Thursday. They were the first two books reviewed of 16 removed from school libraries following complaints that they were harmful to minors or inappropriate. The Polk […]
Posted inSchools, Sports
Lakeland Christian Girls Soccer Team Wins 2nd Straight State Title
The Lakeland Christian School Vikings girls soccer team won its second straight state 3A championship, With a 2-1 win over the Benjamin School Buccaneers. The Vikings’ first goal was scored by junior Kaelyn Diaz, who leads the team in scoring, 10 Tampa Bay reports. Source: 10 Tampa Bay
Posted inActivism, Schools
Lakeland Rally Targets Florida ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
Roughly three dozen people gathered along Bartow Road on Friday to protest state legislation that would place restrictions on teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity, News Channel 8 reports. Critics say the legislation, which they call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, will stigmatize LGBTQ students. Proponents say it gives parents the right to discuss […]
Posted inA & E, Schools
Polk Museum of Art Announces a Major Expansion
The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern college today announced a $6 million, 10,000-square-foot expansion that will triple the gallery space and add classrooms and art labs.
Posted inHealth, Schools
New Polk Schools Policy Allows Parents to Opt Students Out of Sex Education
Recent changes to Polk Public Schools’ reproductive health curriculum allow parents to opt out of sex education discussions. Parents of high school and middle school students will be notified of sex education topics a week in advance and can opt out under a policy approved unanimously by the Polk School Board on Jan. 25, WUSF […]
Posted inActivism, Schools
Polk Schools Taking Applications for Book Review Committees
Applications are now available for parents, community members and students who want to be part of the two committees reviewing 16 books that were removed from Polk public school library shelves recently.
Posted inSchools
Polk County Schools Removes Books from Libraries for Review After Group Complains About Them
Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid has asked middle and high school librarians to remove 16 books from school media center shelves for a review after receiving complaints about the books from the activist group County Citizens Defending Freedom.
Posted inHealth, Schools
Polk State College Allowing Hybrid Classes Amid Omicron Surge
The rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant has prompted Polk State College, where classes resume today, to modify its return-to-campus plan, ABC Action News reports. Starting next week, professors have the option of teaching hybrid classes, allowing students to either attend in person or online. | LEARN MORE: News release Source: ABC Action News
Posted inHealth, Schools
Read It in the Morning Paper, COVID-19 Edition
HOSPITAL: The number of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Lakeland Regional Health has increased to 143 on Monday afternoon from 65 last Tuesday afternoon. The virus’ more-contagious omicron variant is sending a growing number of patients to the emergency room, but a lower proportion is being admitted to the hospital than during last summer’s delta […]