Polk County Public Schools is finalizing plans for the 2021-22 school year and will offer two learning options for students. The first option will be traditional campus learning with face-to-face instruction. The second option will be Polk Virtual School, the district’s longstanding program that allows students to take online lessons. Students have flexibility in their daily work schedule and may work at an accelerated pace, so time management and self-motivation are essential for success. The deadline to apply for Polk Virtual is July 23. For more information about Polk Virtual and how to enroll, visit pvs.polkschoolsfl.com.
0 Comments
Polk State Will Move to Phase III on August 2 with Services and More Classes Returning to Campus7/8/2021 Polk State College will be moving to Phase III of its Return to Campus Plan on Monday, August 2, 2021, with the majority of services returning to campus and more face-to-face class options available for the Fall 2021 Semester, which starts on August 16. Phase III is a return to traditional operations; however, while all student and academic services will be available on campus, they will also continue to be offered via remote options so that the College may serve all students at their comfortability levels. Polk State President Falconetti inducted as Chair of Florida College System Council of Presidents7/7/2021 Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti was inducted in June as Chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents for 2021-2022. The Council of Presidents (COP) is comprised of the presidents of Florida’s 28 public colleges who advise and advocate to state and federal legislators, oversee the coordination of statewide functions such as risk management, and maintain close working relationships with universities, school boards, and more, among other responsibilities that benefit the Florida College System. Dr. H. Keith Wade, President and CEO of Webber International University has been appointed to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Committee on Student Aid. Representing nearly 1,000 private, not-for-profit colleges and universities, NAICU’s mission is to ensure that student aid programs continue to provide all Americans with access to the college of their choice, promote tax policy that helps families save and pay for college, and help private colleges fulfill their distinctive missions. In advancing NAICU’s efforts to ensure adequate funding for the core student aid programs, the Committee on Student Aid sets NAICU’s policy agenda, including federal funding issues and examination of options available to students for financing their college education.
The Achievement Academy Birth to Three program and Milestones Intervention Services (MIS), a subsidiary of RC Enterprise (RCE), have partnered to provide enhanced early intervention to children diagnosed with or are at heightened risk for developmental delays through a landmark new teletherapy program. As a part of pilot program, MIS donated new technology to Achievement Academy’s Early Intervention Specialists that will be used to assess and provide feedback on MIS’s newly developed teletherapy platform. This platform provides multiple features to make remote therapy provision easier for providers and families and increase access to necessary therapy services. In a joint statement, RCE CEO Stephen Rossiter and Dr. Wendy Bradshaw, the MIS co founders, said, “We are delighted to partner with Achievement Academy to enhance their ability to achieve our shared goal of helping children and families in need of special services.” During this two-day-only special event, families can take part in patriotic LEGO® builds and experience our biggest fireworks shows of the year!
WHEN: Fourth of July Weekend, Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4 WHAT: Celebrate America’s independence over two nights and watch as our annual fireworks show transforms into bursting LEGO® bricks before your eyes. Help create a giant American flag out of thousands of LEGO bricks before the sun goes down or enter the competition build for a chance to win a LEGO prize pack by building a patriotic creation of anything you can imagine! Polk State College is celebrating the reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) which is a testament to the institution’s commitment to quality and integrity as well as its capacity to provide effective programs and services. This concludes a three-year process of rigorous internal and external peer review and reinforces Polk State’s mission to serve as a quality driven institution that transforms lives through the power of teaching and lifelong learning. Breaking News: Chamber member Tom Wolf Co and Tampa-based Onicx Development are excited to announce that they are in the advanced stages of discussion and design with Marriott to develop a 130-key Residence Inn in downtown Winter Haven. The location will be at the corner of W Central Avenue and 3rd Street SW. Onicx is the lead project developer and brings in the experience and expertise of creating catalyst projects in urban centers. The City of Lakes Wales is considering a project that could potentially double their population. According to the Growthspotter publication, the development will have up to 6,100 homes, 725,000 square feet of commercial, office and assisted living space located off of Thompson Nursery Road running parallel to Hwy 27. The full build-out would be anticipated by 2040. Read below to see the property breakdown.
Bond Clinic, P.A., is excited to announce the opening of our new Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Facility at the Lakeland Complex led by Dr. Carrie Goddin, PT, DPT. This new facility is the second physical therapy location for Bond Clinic and marks further expansion into the Lakeland community. With a dedicated team of licensed professional therapists and trainers, new patients are encouraged to contact the site for open availability. Most insurance plans are currently accepted. At the end of 2021, Julie Farish, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity East Polk County, will be retiring. Julie has been an incredible asset to our community and her work through Habitat for Humanity has made a tremendous difference in Winter Haven and Polk County. We want to thank her for all of her hard work and wish her a happy retirement! Habitat for Humanity will be searching for a new Executive Director. Click here to access the application and job description. For six weeks this summer starting June 26, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is throwing an “AWE-SUMMER” celebration packed with engaging stage shows, special weekend events and surprise “streetmosphere” performances around every corner. The party runs all summer, June 26 through August 8, at the Theme Park built for kids with returning events, fan-favorite shows and more. Specialty summer treats and beverages like Summer's Own Watermelon Salad with Feta & Mint, Splash of Summer Watermelon Lemonade, and a bedazzled red, white, and blue ice cream cone are the perfectly cool complements to this party-packed season. It’s the return to summer that we’ve all been waiting for this year! A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure Opens New 10,000 Square Foot Facility on theSpace Coast6/16/2021 A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, a Florida based environmental solutions provider, is pleased to announce the official opening of its Space Coast region office in Titusville, Florida. Leading the charge, President Rob Kincart is enthusiastic to expand A-C-T’s offices to the east coast to be a part of the booming space industry and I-95 corridor. “The move to the space coast was a sensible choice for A-C-T as this provides our team with the ability to be a part of a thriving business community and expand our innovation and technology within the sector.” Employers know first-hand that the worker shortage crisis is holding back America’s economic rebound, but it’s getting worse, new federal data show.
By the numbers:
Polk County Public Schools is no longer requiring students and staff to wear face coverings. During last night’s meeting, the Polk County School Board voted unanimously to lift a requirement that students wear face coverings. The requirement for PCPS employees to wear face coverings is also being lifted. Beginning today (June 9, 2021), face coverings will no longer be mandatory in PCPS schools, offices, and buses. Face coverings will be optional for students and staff members for the 2021-22 school year. “We still continue to encourage masks for anybody who is not vaccinated, but we are giving the option and flexibility to families and staff to make those decisions,” said Frederick Heid, incoming PCPS superintendent. Students who opt to wear face coverings must comply with general dress code and school uniform requirements. Bond Clinic, P.A. is proud to announce and welcome Jared White as the Company’s Assistant Marketing Director. White will be responsible for bringing new creative initiatives to the clinic, contribute to community involvement, as well as maintaining multiple marketing platforms.
“I am truly thrilled and grateful to be part of the Bond Clinic family. My entire career has been spent in the communication/marketing field and I look forward to sharing my experience with this community,” says White. The Florida League of Cities, the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, announced the appointment of City of Winter Haven Mayor Brad Dantzler to the Florida League of Cities 2021-2022 Legislative Policy Committee. As a Legislative Policy Committee member, Mayor Dantzler will help develop the League’s Legislative Action Agenda, which details priority issues likely to affect daily municipal governance and local decision-making during the upcoming legislative session, as well as help League staff understand the real-world implications of proposed legislation. Committee members are also asked to serve as advocates for local decision-making throughout the legislative process. An all-new, family-friendly music festival is coming to LEGOLAND® Florida Resort this Labor Day Weekend, September 4 through 6. DJ L.L.A.M.A – the musical superstar behind LEGO® VIDIYO™ – will be making a special appearance at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort for one weekend only as part of his newly announced world tour. Enrollment is open for the Fall 2021 Semester at Polk State College. Classes will begin on August 16. Enrollment is also open for the second session of six-week summer classes, which will begin on June 23.
For three weekends in June, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort’s guests will “discover their inner ninja” and meet their favorite heroes from the world of NINJAGO [NIN-JAH-GO] as LEGO® NINJAGO® Days take over the theme park in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the LEGO NINJAGO brand. This limited-time event will feature ninja-themed activities, exclusive LEGO character meet-and-greets and delicious, kid-friendly treats all the Theme Park built for kids.
Bruce Lyon with the Winter Haven Economic Development Council told the Chamber that he views this acquisition as a fresh opportunity to capitalize upon the accelerated interest in the region created by the collaborative, pro-growth government partners, the expansion and investments of CSX in the intermodal logistics center, Florida Can Manufacturing's new facility and the recent purchase of the 400,000 sq ft warehouse by Coca-Cola. He notes that the public and private sector culture of smart growth benefits the citizens of Winter Haven through new job opportunities and the businesses through expanded networks and efficiencies.
Welcome to Winter Haven Tratt Properties! As the property continues to develop, stay plugged into the Chamber for the latest news and updates! Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center (CFVIC) will host Hurricane Expo 2021 on Saturday, June 12. This free event will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The first 300 families will receive a free case of water (one per family). Hurricane shelter maps will be available as well as list of resources to help prepare for a hurricane. Local vendors will be on site including Polk County Emergency Management and Polk County Parks & Recreation. For more information, or to inquire about being a vendor, call 863-420-2586. In addition to assisting visitors and residents (by providing tourism information about Polk County), CFVIC also sells discounted attraction tickets for many Central Florida attractions (including LEGOLAND Florida Resort). The information center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week (excluding major holidays), and is located at 101 Adventure Court, Davenport, FL 33837 (along U.S. Highway 27), a half-mile south of I-4 at Exit 55.
|
Upcoming Events |
|