The tension was evident as Highlands County's students squared off Saturday for school bragging rights. And it had nothing to do with athletics. It was all about brains and our top middle school students did a wonderful job answering questions that many adults wouldn't know. Academic teams from all Highlands County middle schools competed at the Sebring Middle School auditorium in an annual event measuring students' all-around knowledge. Each grade level battled to beat the buzzer and then the day was capped off with a "varsity" contest with each school's top students vying for a title. Sebring's Hill-Gustat won the varsity contest and the sixth-grade contest. Sebring Middle School won top honors in seventh and eighth grade contests. But the points separating all the schools was small, and every school had a strong showing with top students representing from throughout the county. ...more

June 2, 2008

Don't Kill The Messenger Regarding "Frustrating Challenge Agonizes Teachers" (Commentary, Feb. 3): ...more

February 10, 2008

After reading Patrick Bohlen's letter "Highlands County School Board Needs To Evolve" it was apparent he is unaware that they have evolved. From ape-like creatures, I've got my doubts. But far from the once unprepared accumulation of parents and teachers who might be deceived by a hidden humanist agenda. Today Highlands County should stand proud, recognizing the wisdom and knowledge which this professional school board has displayed. This board does not stand alone, but is just one of scores of school boards across the state that views various changes in the New Science Standards as disingenuous and aimed to promote a pagan philosophy. Identifying this misguided teaching has nothing to do with religion, as Mr. Bohlen would have us believe, but rather the inaccuracy of the curriculum itself. The proposed new science standards have many excellent improvements, but the rhetoric concealed within the evolutionary portion of the new standards could be interpreted as selling a religion rather than teaching science. ...more

February 5, 2008

Private Christian school Berean Academy has a home of its own after opening 12 years ago. On Jan. 11, students, parents and teachers saw the new facility. ...more

January 19, 2008

Program Is Working Regarding "Chastity Is The Ideal, But School Sex Ed Must Recognize Reality" (Our Opinion Jan. 2): ...more

January 14, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County kindergartners entered school this year better prepared to learn, according to three screening tests. ...more

December 25, 2007

SEBRING — Going home for a turkey dinner will be a little easier for teachers and families with school children next year with the school calendar featuring the entire Thanksgiving week as a holiday. Deputy Superintendent Rodney Hollinger told the school board recently the district should consider taking the whole week off because many teachers already take the Monday and Tuesday off before Thanksgiving requiring a higher number of substitutes to be brought in. The School Board of Highlands County approved its 2008-09 student calendar Tuesday with no school for the fourth week of November. ...more

December 13, 2007

Thousands of students, parents and teachers from dozens of Bay area schools and community organizations let their feet do the talking ...more

October 6, 2007

It's a refrain many parents and teachers of teenagers have heard: There's nothing for kids to do in Highlands County. ...more

September 21, 2007

The Bayshore Christian volleyball program won consecutive Class 1A state championships in 2003 and 2004 and lost in the title game in 2005. Last season, the Faith Warriors were eliminated in the region final by Bradenton Christian. ...more

September 17, 2007