HIGHLANDS SCHOOLS WILL RE-OPEN TUESDAY
By MICAH DYAL.

SEBRING — Even though Christmas and New Year’s Day have come and gone, Highlands County students will have until Tuesday to enjoy the winter break, while Hardee County students head back Monday.
“I’m kinda excited (about school),” said Sierra Joseph, a third-grader at Sun ‘n Lake Elementary School. “I haven’t seen my friends in forever.”
Students in the area return to school this week after having about two weeks off. Thanks to a teacher work day going on today, classes resume for all of Highlands County’s public schools Tuesday.
“I’m excited to see what everyone got for Christmas,” said Mackenzie Wilk, a fifth-grader at Woodlawn Elementary School. She said she’s plans to wear the new clothes she got for Christmas, including her Heely’s, the shoes with wheels.
But not everybody is thrilled about having to return to school.
“No… I hate school,” said Dallas Goins, a second-grader at Fred Wild Elementary School. “I want to spend more time with my mom and dad.
“I’m not looking forward to it,” said Dallas, who spent her break watching TV, playing with her friends and fishing with her grandpa who she only gets to see about twice a year.
But there is plenty of days off and vacations for students in the near future.
Schools will be closed Jan. 15 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday and spring break is only about 12 weeks away. If that is not enough, summer vacation will begin in about 20 weeks.
Motorists should also be aware that slower speed limits for school zones will be activated again when school starts. Drivers should also be on the lookout again for school buses in the mornings and afternoons and to remember to stop when children are loading or unloading.