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Highlands Today

Get Ready For School - Supply Lists Are Out, Orientations Set

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Supplies line the shelves of local stores in preparation for the start of school in Sebring.

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: August 5, 2008

SEBRING - Dust off and get ready to stuff those backpacks again, the first day of school is near and the annual school supply lists are out.

Supply lists spell out the basic items needed at each of Highlands County School District's elementary and middle schools.

The teacher devised lists show parents at Lake Placid Elementary School that "blunt end scissors" are preferred for kindergartners, while Avon Elementary third-graders need four packs of plain yellow #2 pencils.

Most stores selling school supplies should have the lists available. Some schools have them posted on Web sites. If parents have any questions, they are asked to call the schools directly.

Kim Ervin is a district reading specialist and a mother of a second-grader at Cracker Trail Elementary School. She spent about $15 to outfit her daughter with "the essentials" from a list that included, crayons at 22 cents a box, glue at 17 cents a bottle and folders for a dime each.

"Every child is asked to bring the same thing," said Ervin. "You don't want things that cost so much. Everybody's struggling, and you don't want to put things on the list that parents can't afford."

Ervin was pleased with the brevity and specificity of the 14 item supply list.

"With the list you get exactly what they need," she said. "You don't overspend and only buy the right things. If it's not necessary at school, then you don't spend the money."

The teachers requested basic notebooks and folders with plain colors.

Stephanie Bowyer has children entering both middle school and high school.

"I really like the list," said Bowyer. "It makes it easier. At least you know what you're getting is right."

Kim Dennis, manager at Horace Williams Office Products in Sebring, said her store sells and packages everything on the lists and delivers at no charge to regular customers.

She compared this year's list with previous ones and said teachers do a good job keeping the cost down.

"They don't have to get anything fancy, they get it plain," said Dennis. "It's bare bones."

Joyce McClelland, director of elementary programs, said several community organizations and individuals use the lists as guides for donating school supplies.

"Every school child who comes in doesn't have supplies and we make them feel like they're being taken care of," said McClelland about extra supplies held by teachers. "All of a sudden, they're in a new school or in a new town the next day. We try to make it easier on them."

For the most part, orientations at schools will be held next week.

ORIENTATION SCHEDULES

Avon Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4-7 p.m.)

Avon Park Middle School, Thursday, Aug. 14 (5-7 p.m.)

Avon Park High School, Thursday, Aug 14 (5-7 p.m.)

Park Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4-6 p.m.)

Cracker Trail Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (5-7 p.m.)

Fred Wild Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)

Hill-Gustat Middle School, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4-6 p.m.)

Kindergarten Learning Center, Tuesday, Aug. 12 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)

Memorial Elementary, Friday, Aug. 15 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)

Sun 'N Lake Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (5-7 p.m.)

Sebring Middle School, Thursday, Aug 14 (3:30-6 p.m.)

Sebring High School, Saturday, Aug. 9 (9 a.m. until 11:30

for students and 11:30 a.m. - noon for parents.)

Freshman Foundation Only

Sebring High School, Thursday, Aug. 14 (6-8 p.m.)

Woodlawn Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)

Lake Country Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4-6 p.m.)

Lake Placid Elementary, Thursday, Aug. 14 (4:30-6 p.m.)

Lake Placid Middle School, Thursday, Aug. 14 (5:30-7 p.m.)

Lake Placid High School, Thursday, Aug. 14 (6:30-8 p.m.)

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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