Bullying
What is bullying?
In Polk County Schools, student behavior must meet three criteria to be considered bullying:
- The behavior must be repeated. If a behavior occurs only once, it may constitute harassment, but it is not bullying.
- The behavior must be unwanted, offensive, threatening, insulting, humiliating, or causes the target to feel so stressed, injured or threatened that it interferes with his/her educational performance.
- There must be an imbalance of power between the victim and the aggressor.
“Bullying” is systematically or chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. Bullying may involve but is not limited to:
- unwanted teasing
- threatening/intimidating behavior
- stalking or cyber stalking
- cyber bullying
- physical violence
- theft or destruction of school or personal property
- sexual, religious, or racial harassment
- public humiliation
- social exclusion, including incitement and or coercion
- rumor or spreading of falsehoods
If you need to report bullying click here
Other Resources
Support Groups
At Davenport School of the Arts, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Brewer, Guidance Counselors, conduct many different types of groups to meet the students’ needs: Self-Esteem, Social Skills, Organizational Skills, and Anger-control. The groups are called “Clubs,” and meet for 30 minutes a week, giving students an opportunity to talk about their feelings, problems, strengths, weaknesses, and choices. As friendships grow, students learn that we have a lot in common with the people around us. The “Club” allows another adult in your child’s life to help him/her to make good choices, while feeling special!
To enquire about Davenport School of the Arts Support Groups, please contact Mrs. Brown or Mrs. Brewer: 863-420-2557.
Communicating with Teachers:
https://www.davenportschoolofarts.site/staff.html
Teachers & other staff members email information is located under the general information tab.
Tutoring Services:
Tutoring services are generally offered after school on specific days of the week. Parents and/or students can ask or email teachers to enquire about days and times.
Parent Teacher Conferences:
Parent Teacher Conferences are offered to all parents as a means to track a student’s progress in classes. Conferences are to inform parents of any problems a student may be having. Middle school parent teacher conferences are at 8:00 AM and can be set up through the middle school counselor- Shanequa Frederick (863) 420-2557, Shanequa.Frederick@polk-fl.net. Elementary parent teacher conferences can be set up with the elementary counselor - Jane Brewer. jane.brewer@polk-fl.net.
Lost Your Insurance?
If you or your family has lost your medical insurance due to a layout during the Coroavirus quarantine, there are resources for you. If you find yourself being laid off due to business decisions related to the health crisis, the current rules provide a sixty-day eligibility window for you and your family, called a Special Enrollment Period, to sign up for health coverage available in your county. Click on the documents below for more information.
You've Got This!
Working from home, keeping your children safe, teaching your kids, making sure everyone in your household eats…. The list goes on…. Feeling overwhelmed in this time of uncertainty? Feeling like you just can’t do it? We want to show you that YOU ARE DOING IT and YOU ARE DOING IT WELL!!!!!
Click HERE
Enrollment
Magnet & Choice Schools:
For open enrollment information please visit Polk's Education Options.
Parents who wish to submit an application for their student to attend a Polk County magnet or choice school may submit an application during the Open Enrollment Period.
Waiting List and Applicant Pool FAQs
Acceptance,
Parents and students that receive a confirmation letter are eligible to enroll at DSOTA.
If you are enrolling into a Polk County Public School for the first time from out of the state of Florida, you will need the following:
- Birth Record
- Florida Immunization Record
- Physical within the last 12 months
- 2 Proofs of Address (see below)
- Proof of Grade Level
If you are enrolling into Polk County from another Florida School, you will need the following:
- Birth Record
- Florida Immunization Record
- Florida Physical
- 2 Proofs of Address (see below)
- Proof of Grade Level
If you were in a Polk County School in the past, you will need the following:
- 2 Proofs of address (see below)
- Proof of Grade Level
- If the student is enrolling in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, you will need proof of required immunizations.
The Following Is A List Of Acceptable Proofs Of Address:
The proofs must be from different categories and show you name and physical address. If you live with a family member, friend, fiance, etc., and the the proofs are in their name, you will need to complete an affidavit of residence form.
Category 1
- Apartment or home lease agreement, mortgage document, property tax record. A rent receipt is acceptable if the name and phone number of the landlord as well as your name and the address are on the receipt. A driver's license with the current address would be acceptable.
Category 2
- Current utility bill (electric, gas, phone, cable, water)
Category 3
- Voter registration document
Category 4
- Proof of government benefits (disability, Medicare, food stamps, DCF correspondence)
THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD REQUIREMENTS. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY EXCEPTIONS.
Immunization Requirements
All students enrolling in 7th grade must have the following immunizations before they can enter 7th grade. NO schedule will be given until shots are up-to-date:
- Tdap/Tetanus - Diphtheria - Pertussis
- 2 MMR
- Hepatitis B series (three vaccinations)
- Varicella (vaccination or proof of disease)
Shots must be submitted on a Florida 680 immunization certificate issued by the health department (a copy of this form can be picked up at our office from the cumulative folder prior to getting vaccinated).
Shots Are Available FREE at the Health Department
- Haines City Clinic
1700 Baker Avenue East
Phone: 863-421-3204 - Lake Wales Clinic
835 West Central Ave
Phone: 863-678-4144
Parent Portal
elementary counselor - Jane Brewer
email: jane.brewer@polk-fl.net.
middle school counselor- Shanequa Frederick
email: Shanequa.Frederick@polk-fl.net
Parents can monitor classroom assignments and grades through the use of the Parent Portal website.
How do I create my Parent Portal account?
- Obtain a P.I.N. number for each of your students by visiting his or her school. This P.I.N. is unique to your student and only your student. Parents/guardians must show proof at the school in order to receive this unique P.I.N. number DO NOT share this P.I.N. number with others.
- Create a Parent Portal account, if you don’t already have one, by visiting https://focusk12.polk-fl.net/focus/auth/ and clicking “I DO NOT have an Account Registered on the Parent Portal but my child is Actively Enrolled.”
- Complete the form that appears and click the “Submit” button to register your Parent Portal account.
- To attach your child to your account Visit https://focusk12.polk-fl.net/focus/auth/ and click the “I have an Account Registered on the Parent Portal but would like to ADD A CHILD”.
- Complete the form by entering the Student ID including the “5300,” the student’s date of birth, and the corresponding P.I.N. number that you obtained from your child’s school. When finished, click the box next to “I’m not a robot” and then click “Add Student.”