Posted: 8/12/2015
Back to School 2015
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We can't believe that the 2015-2016 school year is already just around the corner! Here are some local resources and important information to help your back to school planning go off without a hitch.
First Day of School!
Back to School Bashes
[Updated 8/12/2015]
Highlands County
- August 15, 10 am - 2 pm • St. John’s United Methodist Church, Sebring, FL
- Back to School Bash
- For info, call (863) 382-1736.
- August 15, 3 pm • Highway Park Community Star Center Complex • Lake Placid, FL
- 13th annual Highway Park Community Fun Day
- Free haircuts will also be given starting at 11 a.m. for children in kindergarten through 12th grade!
- Donations of school supplies are being accepted between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. until August 16th at the Star Center Complex.
- For more information, call Frank Branch at (239) 771-7044, Selvin McGahee at (863) 214-6276, or the Star Center at (863) 465-8131
- August 16, 12 pm - 2 pm • Memorial United Methodist Church • Lake Placid, FL
- Back to school WATER BASH! Enjoy inflatable waterslides, music, free hotdogs, and much more!
- August 17, 9 am - 12 pm • Sunridge Baptist Church Community Ministry • Sebring, FL
- Free children’s haircuts and filled backpack giveaway
- For information, call (863) 382-3695 or email sbcoffice@centurylink.net.
- August 17, 1-5 pm • Signature Salon Suites • Sebring, FL
- Diva Creations by Erica is holding free back-to-school cuts for underprivileged students (kindergarten to 14 years)
Polk County
- August 15, 10 am - 1 pm • Greater Works Ministries • Winter Haven, FL
- August 15, 10 am - 12 pm • Westwood Park • Winter Haven, FL
- Heart to Heart Community Enrichment Back to School Family Fun Day & Health Fair
- For info, call (863) 875-7933
- August 15. 6 pm - 9 pm • Bryant Stadium • Lakeland, FL
- Rock the Block Back to School Bash
- For info, call (863) 682-7000
- August 20, 10 am - 5 pm • Fine Line Barbershop • Winter Haven, FL
- Back to School Bash
- Free haircuts
- August 22, 10 am - 2 pm • Ward and Coney Community Center • Winter Haven, FL
- Back to School Extravaganza
- Pre-register to receive supplies here.
Hardee County
Email ehollida@heartlandforchildren.org if you would like your Hardee County event(s) listed!
Back to School Tax Free Holiday (10 Days!)
Florida’s sales tax holiday is back again in 2015...and this time, it's for 10 full days! The holiday kicks off Friday, August 7, 2015 at 12:01 am and will end Sunday August 16, 2015 at 11:59 pm.
The Details
- Garments and accessories are tax free up to $100 each.
- Shoes are eligible for the tax exemption. As with clothing, however, only footwear costing less than $100 per pair will ring up tax-free.
- Sales tax will not be charged on items such as pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, and glue. The state set a price limit of $15 per item for this category, but left off items such as staplers and computer paper.
- For computers, the first $750 of the purchase price will be tax free, provided the computers are for “noncommercial home” use. (A year ago, the exemption excluded computers greater than $750.)
- Full guide available here.
Transportation Information
Community of Learning Transportation Services (COLTS) • From polk-fl.net: The Polk County School Board has made it possible for all public school high school students in the County to use public transportation for FREE. All students need is a COLTS sticker on their school ID badge to ride any standard transit bus in Polk County whenever and wherever the buses are running.
View more information and download Parent Permission Form.
Parent Portal Access
If you would like to keep track of grades and other important information for your child, sign up for the on-line portal that provides you information about the progress in school