PHOTO Release

Contact Tammy Atmore 863-679-6560 x227

Tammy.Atmore@LWCharterSchools.com

POLK AVENUE ELEMENTARY HOSTS ANNUAL LEADERSHIP DAY

LAKE WALES, FL – Polk Avenue Elementary hosted its Annual Leadership Day in May 19, 2016 and gave visitors a chance to experience “leadership” through the eyes of students. “The Leader in Me is an innovative, school-wide model that emphasizes a culture of student empowerment. It helps unleash each child’s full potential,” explained Principal Gail Quam. Polk Avenue Elementary has been working for several years to implement The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®. Both teachers and students study and use the leadership principles daily. Polk Avenue Leadership Day began with an Open Ceremony hosted by 3rd Grader Mia Manso-Vargas as the emcee. Next, the winners of the Tropicana Speech Contest shared their essays with the attendees and the Cardinal Chorus performed “This Land is Your Land”. Next, student leaders led small groups to different areas of the school, including the café, media center and garden. The Cardinal Café featured the Polk Avenue Academies and guests were able to visit with the students to learn about each of the exciting academies, such robotics, chess, the step team, and many others. At the Wax Museum located in the media center, visitors met different historical figures, as recreated by National Elementary Honor Society students. In the Garden, students explained about the hydroponic grow towers and various vegetation that they were growing. Guests were also able to visit the classrooms and observe the outstanding work that the students were doing and how they demonstrate their leadership skills in the classroom. During the closing ceremony, 5th Grader Devin Zenteno shared more about Polk Avenue’s Leadership Journey and & Habits, which include:

• Habit #1 Be Proactive • Habit #2 Begin With The End In Mind • Habit #3 Put First Things First • Habit #4 Think-Win-Win • Habit #5 Seek First To Understand and Then Be Understood • Habit #6 Synergize • Habit #7 Sharpen The Saw

The 2nd grade students presented the Chinese Dragon as the final performance. The Polk Avenue students truly demonstrated their leadership skills and provided an incredible experience for parents and the community during their Annual Leadership Day. For more information on Polk Avenue Leadership Day, please contact Polk Avenue at 863.678.4244.

Above Photos: 3rd Grader Mia Manso-Vargas as the emcee and the 2nd Place Tropicana Speech Contest Winner, 5th Grader Kevin Lei, along with Leadership Speeches from 1st Grader Jonathan Alves and 1st Grader J’Naria Sewell. PHOTOS: Polk Avenue Cardinals Chorus and Tropicana Speech Contest Winners Grace Ensey of 5th Grade (top) and Benjamin Rose of 5th (bottom) PHOTOS: Polk Avenue Academies featured in the Café

PHOTOS: Wax Museum presented by the National Elementary Honor Society in the Media Center, include historical figures such as – President Abraham Lincoln, First Lady Nancy Reagan, Dr. Ben Carson, Shakespeare, and Beyonce.

PHOTOS Below: Polk Avenue Garden