Ten Ways to Avoid a Packed Lunch Slump in Largo

Are your kids tired of the same old bagged lunches? Spice things up with homemade Lunchables and bento boxes.

The kids just returned to school but you may already be in a “packed lunch slump.” Here are ten ways to make packed lunches healthy, fun and fast. 1. Get a bento box system. Laptop Lunches has great options for bento box-style lunches. Bento-ware includes a soft-sided case with sturdy, dishwasher safe containers (top rack only) that fit together inside, just like a bento box. The system pays for itself as you can ditch zip-lock bags and pack a far greater variety of lunch options, including dinner leftovers, berries and dips. You can purchase Laptop Lunches online or at Whole Foods Store. 2. Wrap it & have your child choose the filling. Kids love having turkey and cheese or veggies with hummus wrapped in a tortilla. Las Palomas Latin …

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Largo Student Invited to Attend Obama's Inauguration

Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School eighth-grader Grayson Barnard, 13, is heading to Washington, DC to witness history.

A Largo middle school student has been invited to attend Monday's Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC. Grayson Barnard, an eighth-grader in the Center for Gifted Studies at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School, told Pinellas County Schools she's excited to see history. “I feel very honored that they chose me to come and that I have the opportunity to go,” she said in a story on the school district's Newsroom blog. Grayson’s mother, Stacey, said the 13-year-old was invited to take part because of her participation in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference program in 2010. She's also attending the five-day Middle School Presidential Inaugural Conference, where outstanding middle school students will learn more about the history of …

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MLK Day Means 4-Day Weekend For Pinellas Schools

Public schools in Largo are closed Friday for a Teacher Work Day and again on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Largo students can enjoy a four-day weekend leading up to Monday's observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. All of Pinellas County's public schools are closed Friday, Jan. 18, for a Teacher Work Day, and closed again Monday, Jan. 22, for the national holiday, according to the district calendar. Classes resume Tuesday for the start of the second semester. See the district's online calendar for the rest of the 2013 holiday schedule.

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School Crossing Guard Hit by Car

The driver turned in the path of the crossing guard, clipping the worker in the arm with the car's side view mirror.

A Pinellas County School crossing guard suffered minor injuries this morning, when a driver failed to yield to the victim in the crosswalk. Nelson Guenther had minor injuries to his left forearm, when he was hit by the vehicle's side view mirror. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, 18-year-old Richard Barbieri of Largo was driving a 2011 Chevy Malibu at 102nd Avenue and 131st Street. Witnesses at the scene and deputies from the Major Accident Investigation Team said that Guenther was crossing 102nd Avenue at 131st Street, with the crossing signal, at about 7:30 a.m.   As Guenther crossed, the Chevy turned west on 102nd Avenue from northbound 131st Street. The driver failed to yield at the pedestrian crossing. The car struck …

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Pinellas Kids Back in School Jan. 7

Are your kids going stir crazy now that they've been out of school for a while? Largo Patch is here to help!

In case you're wondering when your kiddos will be heading back to school after winter break, classes are back in session at Pinellas County Schools on Monday, Jan. 7. Are your kids going stir crazy, now that they've been out of school for a while? No worries, Largo Patch is here to help!  Sorry, we can't babysit. But, we do have some ideas plucked from the Largo (and nearby) Patch Directories.- Want the news delivered to your email box every morning? Subscribe to the Largo Patch newsletter. It's free and we don't give out your email address. Sign up here.

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Pinellas School Lunch Menus, Dec. 17-21

A look at what's cooking in Largo public school cafeterias this week.

Monday, Dec. 17 Breakfast: Pizza pocket Lunch: (Entree) Max sticks with marinara, chicken popper bowl or chef salad; (Side) Sweet potato stix, romaine or tossed salad Tuesday, Dec. 18 Breakfast: Sausage patty swirl Lunch: (Entree) Rib-B-Que sandwich, tortellini alfredo or chicken caesar salad; (Side) Baked beans or veggie dippers Wednesday, Dec. 19 Breakfast: Eggo pancake minis Lunch: (Entree) Teriyaki beef dippers with rice, baked ziti or yogurt parfait; (Sides) Steamed fresh broccoli or romaine salad Thursday, Dec. 20 Breakfast: Egg and cheese croissant Lunch: (Entree) Pizza calzone with marinara, cheeseburger or hamburger or chef salad; (Sides) Seasoned waffle fries or veggie dippers Friday, Dec. 21 Breakfast: Cinnamon roll Lunch: (…

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When Does Winter Break Start, End for Pinellas Schools?

Largo students will get two full weeks off for the holidays this year, according to the 2012-13 Pinellas County Schools calendar.

Wondering when the kids will be home for the holidays this year? Students in Largo will be on Winter Holiday break from Monday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Jan. 4, according to the Pinellas County Schools 2012-13 calendar. All public elementary, middle and high schools will be closed for staff and students during that time. Classes resume Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Get more info on the Pinellas County Schools website.

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Pinellas School Lunch Menus, Dec. 10-14

A look at what's cooking in Largo public school cafeterias this week.

Monday, Dec. 10 Breakfast: Sausage dog Lunch: (Entree) Breakfast for lunch, vegetable lasagna with garlic breadstick or chef salad; (Side) Deli roasted potatoes, romaine or tossed salad Tuesday, Dec. 11 Breakfast: Pancake pals, yogurt Lunch: (Entree) Grilled cheese, BBQ pork sandwich or chicken caesar salad; (Side) Tomato soup or veggie dippers Wednesday, Dec. 12 Breakfast: Egg and cheese swirl Lunch: (Entree) Fish taco, chicken nuggets or fruit and yogurt plate; (Sides) Corn or romaine salad Thursday, Dec. 13 Breakfast: Zucchini bread Lunch: (Entree) Corn dog, spaghetti and meatballs with garlic breadstick or farmer’s salad; (Sides) Baked beans or veggie dippers Friday, Dec. 14 Breakfast: Breakfast bar, string cheese Lunch: (Entree) Pizza…

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Enter Patch's “Deck the House” Contest For a Chance to Win $100,000

Did you decorate your house for the holidays this year? Enter our "Deck the House" contest and you could win $100,000 for Pinellas County Schools and $500 to pay your electric bills!

Enter Patch's “Deck the House” Contest For a Chance to Win $100,000

Did you decorate your house for the holidays this year? Enter our "Deck the House" contest and you could win $100,000 for Pinellas County Schools and $500 to pay your electric bills!

We’re launching our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America—the best “decked” house in the country—the one home so spectacularly decorated that everyone in Largo jokes your holiday decorations could rival Rockefeller Center’s. If this sounds like your house, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16 to deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/largo. Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter. We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national winner will have $100,000 donated to his or her local school district. Our contest is right around …

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