To boost academic achievement, many Highlands County schools are looking to parents to get them involved in the education of their children. ...more

November 6, 2009

Because of recent statewide and national economic belt tightening, Cypress Elementary School is looking for a little extra help in educating its children. ...more

October 11, 2008

Subtle changes at the Hillel school could bring big improvements to how students learn. ...more

August 28, 2008

In the 1960s, Mike Rom was a standout fullback at Edgewater High School in Orlando. Unfortunately, he could break tackles and score touchdowns better than he could read sentences. ...more

July 2, 2008

AVON PARK — There's dress for success and dress to impress, but next year at Park Elementary, it will be dress to behave your best, as the school introduces a standardized dress code. Park Elementary Principal Brenda Longshore said Tuesday, "we are just hoping that it will help us create a better learning environment and that we will be able to reduce the discipline referrals and that it will create a positive school culture." Last summer, several parents suggested a standardized dress code for students. During a visit to a Polk County school this year, Park Elementary staff members inquired about the countywide dress code and were very impressed with it, Longshore said. ...more

May 20, 2008

The Media Specialists and Reading Coaches of Highlands would like to thank the following for their support of the visiting author, Alane Ferguson, to several of our schools. It simply would not have been possible with them. ...more

May 7, 2008

SEBRING — Beckie Townsend cuts a cardboard letter "N" that will have a noodle attached to it to help students at the Kindergarten Learning Center learn the alphabet. Next, she cuts a "B" that will be accompanied by a bean to also be used for a letter recognition exercise. One day a week Townsend volunteers in her 5-year-old daughter's class and reads stories and sings songs. She also makes copies and prepares materials in the teacher work area. As vice president of the school's parent teacher organization (PTO) and co-chair of the school advisory council (SAC) and volunteer, Townsend is a very involved school parent. But despite various efforts by school administrators to reach out to parents, many don't become actively involved in school events and functions. ...more

November 19, 2007

SEBRING — Fred Wild Elementary second-grader Brittney Austin stopped by the school's R.O.A.R. Store on Monday with the six R.O.A.R. tickets in hand she received for good behavior. School officials at Fred Wild Elementary and three other district schools are looking to the Positive Behavior Support program this year with hopes of improving student conduct. Park Elementary was first to implement the program in 2003-04 with Sebring Middle following in 2005-06. Fred Wild and Avon Park Middle started the program this year. Austin said she received a R.O.A.R. ticket in the lunchroom and another ticket in her classroom for being first to follow her teacher's directions. Students can use the tickets to get items in the R.O.A.R. Store, which is open for about one hour on Mondays and Tuesdays. ...more

October 9, 2007