LAKE WALES – To celebrate the 100^th day of school on Tuesday (Feb. 5), kindergarten students at Polk Avenue Elementary worked on several 100-themed projects together, and then gathered outside for a special photo.

LAKE WALES – Students in Kristine Shollenberger’s third grade class at Polk Avenue Elementary are using the school garden to study science, math, technology and engineering.

The STEM lessons include learning about plants (science); using tools in the garden (technology); creating a planting grid with string (engineering); and accurately measuring the perimeter to create equal spacing of plants (math).

“Student leaders have roles in the upkeep of our garden, like watering, weeding and eventually harvesting. The class is very proud of their hard work,” said Shollenberger.

LAKE WALES – Polk Avenue Elementary fourth graders are as serious as statesmen about similes ….  or maybe they are busy as beavers, or laughing like hyenas, or brilliant like sunshine.

Pick a simile, and the students in teacher Sydney Mercado’s writing class probably have it on their lists. Students spent part of Thursday (Sept. 27) morning creating lists for their “simile books.”

Fourth grader Daemona Gibson (front) shows off her simile book, while classmates  Karen Calderon(center) and Sasha DeVault continue to work on their books.

In late February, all fourth grade students will be tested on writing skills as part of the State of Florida’s FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test).