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Today marks the first day of school for Polk County Public School (PCPS) students. All schools will be returning to an in-person format, with classrooms, sporting events + other school activities taking place in full capacity in most cases.
Health + safety precautions for PCPS
- Schools + classrooms — Face coverings are optional but highly recommended at this time.
- Transportation — Students will be bussed at full capacity and facial coverings are strongly encouraged.
- Cafeterias — High-touch surfaces will be frequently sanitized and no self-serve areas will be available.
- Athletics — Indoor sporting events will be limited to 75% capacity, but outdoor events will be opened to full capacity.
- COVID-19 exposure — Unvaccinated staff and students who come in contact with an individual with COVID-19 will be asked to quarantine — vaccinated asymptomatic individuals will not.
- Fine Arts — Indoor performances will be limited to 75% capacity, but outdoor performances will be opened to full capacity. Facial coverings are strongly recommended while singing and sharing of instruments + equipment will be limited.
- Volunteers + visitors — Campus guests relay their movements on campus and are strongly encouraged to wear a facial covering.
- Field trips — Large-scale field trips will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Clinics — Isolation areas will be determined for symptomatic individuals in the clinic.
Many area private schools also return to in-person learning this month. You can find school calendars, COVID-19 guidelines, and other information on each school’s website.
First day of classes for colleges + universities
- Polk State College | Aug. 16 — Facial coverings + social distancing are strongly recommended indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
- Florida Polytechnic University | Aug. 24. — Facial coverings are strongly recommended for unvaccinated students and staff.
- Southeastern University | Aug. 25. — Facial coverings will be required in classrooms.
- Florida Southern College | Aug. 31 — Students are encouraged to participate in the Mocs Take a Shot Incentive program and wear masks indoors.
And with that, we wish you a fabulous school year, Lakeland.
