NEXTGEN August - September 2021

August - September 2021

In The Footsteps of Greatness…

WHAT WOULD BARBARA SAY? THE DREAM TEAM…

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Contents

August - September 2021

PUBLISHER

EARLY LEARNING COALITION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EDITOR Darrell King

GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES Adam Mohammadbhoy (Chairman) Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer) Andrew Minor

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

PRODUCTION EDITOR Katelyn Disbro Kelly Harbour DESIGN EDITOR Mara Stork PHOTOGRAPHY Whitney Patton Wendy Dewhurst COVER PHOTO Bridget Lopez CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kara Chalmers, Carlee Colonneso, Bre Jones Mulock, Christa Hardin, Caroline Lehman, Kelly McLean, Amy Treis, Rachel Spivey, Svetlana Ivashchenko, Cindy Spray, Bronwyn Beightol CALENDAR OF FAMILY EVENTS Bradenton Macaroni Kid: Denise Granata ADVERTISING SALES Kelly Stasurak: kstasurak@elc-manatee.org PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION PCI Communications, Inc.

CONTACT NEXTGEN EDITORIAL................................ 941-757-2912 ADVERTISING..........................941-212-4988 FAX........................................ 941-757-2917 EDITOR editor@nextgenmagazine.org COMPETITION ENTRIES competitions@nextgenmagazine.org ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@nextgenmagazine.org ADVERTISING SUBMISSIONS adsubmissions@nextgenmagazine.org ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS articles@nextgenmagazine.org

PRIVATE SECTOR APPOINTED MEMBERS James R. Chatham, M.D., Lupita Wells, Len Tabicman, Michael Rampino, Christina Riggio, Karen Carpenter, Doug Hall, Zack Kallis, Rev. Dr. Robert Baker, Dr. Michael Mackie, Bryan Rench, Gary Scott, Caroline Halfacre LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED MEMBERS Rachel Kendzior Children With Disabilities Program Representative Annette Larkin Private, For-Profit Provider Representative Dr. Robin Thompson Manatee County School Board Designee Jennifer Passmore Board of County Commissioners' Appointee Kathy Patreka Head Start Director Chantal Porte Department of Children and Families Designee James Disbro CareerSource Suncoast Dr. Carla McGill County Health Department Designee Dr. Kristina DeWitt Florida College System Designee Marjani Jones Faith-Based Provider Representative Paul Sharff Chief Executive Officer SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE BOARD Linda Guritz BOARD OF EDUCATION MANATEE COUNTY Charlie Kennedy, Gina Messenger, Rev. James Golden, Mary Foreman, Cynthia Saunders, Superintendent

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EXECUTIVELY SPEAKING Following in the footsteps of greatness…

12 TO FIDGET OR SPIN? 18 BEYOND GENEROUS

Off the Hook!

24 BON APPETIT

Slick new addition…

38 PROACTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT… 42 CHILDCARE PROVIDER DIRECTORY 48 TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN

Guide to starting Pre-K 54 LOOKING FOR

GUARDIAN ANGELS…

How you can help children in need 58 CRYING WITHOUT TEARS… 62 CHILDREN’S CHAMPION

What would Barbara say?

66 Calendar Of Events 70 Fun Kids Craft

Framed memories 80 Kids in the Kitchen

Cool fun recipes!

83 On the Bookshelf 84 GRADE LEVEL READING UPDATE 86 CYNTHIA SAUNDERS…

Back to school message

NEXTGEN and the Early Learning Coalition do not endorse or warrant any products or services contained herein, unless otherwise expressly noted. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors. Submitted materials will not be returned. Whole or part of this publication may not be used or duplicated in any way without written permission from the Early Learning Coalition.

The Early Learning Coalition is a 501-C (3) nonprofit organization committed to ensuring affordable and creditable early child care and early education through School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs. Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning and Manatee County Government.

90 MANATEE’S GOT TALENT

The Dream Team…

96 ED DICK: A TRIBUTE

Following In The Footsteps Of Greatness...

Mary Glass is inspired every day by her mother’s legacy WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock Independent, free, curious, and always seeking new knowledge, Glass grew to sprinkle her creative energy across dynamic corporate careers and traveling the world before a heart pulled her home to give back to the community she loves and appreciates. The community where her family has stood watch for decades like a stoic oak tree, hugging and protecting the landscape and driving roots deep into the rich layers of history.

L

ike a flipbook of vintage Florida postcards - popping with vivid color and rolling seascapes - Mary Glass’ childhood stretched out before her with idyllic, adventure-seeking charm filled with sandy horse trails, bare feet, swimsuits, and spontaneous football scrimmages on quiet streets.

A dreamy, tropical snow globe to explore, the 1950s and 60s Sarasota unfolded 6

Mary-Bridget Lopez

Public service and education – longtime core values thriving in the Glass home – collided when Glass leaped from the corporate world to the philanthropic circle 14 years ago, taking action as president for the Manatee Education Foundation and enhancing opportunities for public school children and teachers.

during a time when famous authors gathered at restaurants over strong coffee, circus performers practiced in shaded spots just off the streets, and Glass – at age 12 – garnered the confidence to ease out the family’s Boston Whaler from their Whitfield Estates home and drive it to the Holiday Inn where she and friends could catch a movie downtown.

“I thrive on change,” said Glass, her sapphire-blue eyes peering over a floral, gold-rimmed teacup as she sipped. “It’s a gift – a talent. I love to change things up and keep things fresh. At first, I was apprehensive, but as time went on, I grew to love working with the district and helping our teachers enrich the classrooms for our students to excel. After all, it’s all about the children.”

After diving into the fast-paced boat industry, working for Chris Craft, and traveling 40 plus weeks a year navigating acquisitions of prominent real estate companies for a national marketing team, Glass gathered up her experience and talent to steer the helm of Manatee Education Foundation. A not-for-profit organization established in 1988 that provides indirect support to the Manatee County School District through various

programs that benefit students and teachers. Cultivating a liaison between the private sector and the public school system, the foundation builds avenues for business, industry, and community involvement in public education.

“This is a foundation where all money really and truly does go back to the schools, and Mary is an amazing leader for it,” said Dr. Robin Thompson, interim executive director of Curriculum and Professional Learning for the Manatee County School District. “She’s credible and trusted with no hidden agenda and deep roots in the community. As a team player, she is open-minded and will talk to everyone at the table.”

As the only foundation solely dedicated to providing funds for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade public schools in Manatee County, MEF has fueled dreams and manifested opportunities with a kaleidoscope of programs such as Soar in 4, Teacher IMPACT Grants, STEM Education Initiatives, and Arts Education funding to name a few. When the pandemic roared through the school system, Glass never missed a beat, quickly forming the COVID-19 Relief Fund. When she discovered a dire need for Wi-Fi hotspots nestled in at-risk neighborhoods during remote learning, she helped raise $40,000 in a matter of weeks to supply an initial 81 mobile Verizon Hotspots and one year of service for each device.

“I felt like my past careers – my ability to really thrive under pressure and function in a really fast-paced environment – prepared me for thinking on my feet during the pandemic,” said Glass, who was elected to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations in 2017. “I don’t believe in repetition. I like new ideas and perspectives.”

Petite with a soft voice and a quick step, Glass buzzes around her small office where books line shelves and awards peek out discreetly if you look hard enough.

Hovering over grants to review, she shuffles papers and fondly sifts through a stack of thank you notes meticulously colored in crayons from elementary school children. Rainbow drawn happy faces and glued photos of kids sporting wide, toothless grins jump from the notes. They express gratitude for unique programs like

Pat Glass surrounded by her daughters Dianne, Mary and son Marty. robotics and STEM literacy or supplies like the $34,000 in LEGOS depicting careers and handed out to every Title I school in Manatee County.

“Our mission is to provide funding for innovative programs and enhanced educational opportunities for the teachers and students of Manatee County Public Schools beyond allocated state dollars,” said Glass, who loves learning a new word each day and visiting art museums with her niece in St. Pete. “Over the years, it has been a blessing to do what I do.

Giving back is the greatest reward.”

Glass has modeled giving back after her mother, Pat Glass – Manatee County’s first female county commissioner who was inducted in 1978 and served 25 years fighting passionately for her constituency.

Loved for her spirit and tenaciousness in getting things done, Pat Glass achieved monumental goals such as lobbying the Florida Legislature for funds to construct a non-profit hospital for the mentally ill

and those battling substance addiction in Manatee County. In the mid-1980s, she helped push along the sale of Manatee Memorial Hospital so the proceeds would cover the cost of healthcare for the homeless population for three decades.

Focusing on children, she helped create the Children’s Services dedicated millage – a tax that continues to provide the most impactful social service funding for children and families in Manatee County.

Tears pooling in her eyes, Mary Glass reached inward to reveal the fluid inspiration that continuously flowed from her mother, who passed away last year at age 93.

“She was the one who guided me to come work here,” said Mary Glass, her voice softening to a near whisper. “She was always such an influential role model to me, especially in leadership qualities. She loved her constituency, and they truly loved her back because she listened and looked forward to helping people solve problems.”

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Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton, USF PAInT Center Chair of MAEC with Mary. heart, and all of us in this community feels it. I am proud to call her a friend.”

Manatee School District Superintendent Cynthia Saunders & Mary.

While a separate entity, MEF dances alongside the Manatee County School District in beautifully choreographed steps. Superintendent Cynthia Saunders expressed gratitude for the passion, drive, and creativity that pours from Mary Glass.

“The impact that Mary Glass and the Manatee Education Foundation have on our community is immeasurable,” said Saunders. “As a champion of public education and the arts, we’re blessed to have her in Manatee County.”

Just before the Earth begins to glow each morning, Mary Glass meditates and finds strength in her Catholic faith. She walks, weight trains, and geeks out over jigsaw puzzles that help her relax. She can whip up a mean Paella in the kitchen and devour lessons streaming from Khan Academy.

Phil Galvano Golf Classic Committee: Alisha Watterson, Mary, Susan DeWitt & Kathy Galea.

In 2018, 12 years after she retired, the Manatee County Commission named its meeting chambers in her honor: The Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers.

Perhaps the Glass family has impacted and inspired the robust list of MEF supporters that throughout the years have included Vernon DeSear, Rick Fawley, Dottie McCarthy, Harry Kinnan, Ross Hodges, and Senator Bill Galvano, to name a few. Raising millions of dollars in support of education over the last 8

25 years, MEF has partnered with the Galvano Golf Classic, a tournament in honor of Bill Galvano’s father, Phil Galvano, who coached golf to a range of famous Hollywood stars.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Mary on the Galvano Classic for many years,” Senator Bill Galvano said. “Every year, she is consistently enthusiastic and genuinely excited about the event.

She really cares about the students and teachers we support. She leads with her

Growing up with three brothers and a sister, Glass cherishes family nestled close to her heart. She holds a degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida, but her passion lies in art history. At the impressionable age of 17, she lived in Europe for six weeks, finding herself gazing in awe at masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and the Wedding Feast at Cana at the Louvre, wondering about the intriguing lives of artists.

“I’ve always had an affinity to the arts,” said Mary Glass, who proudly hangs student art won from auctions in her home. “I’ve always been pulled into those classes – painting, sculpture, photography. I’m fascinated by artists

Mary with State Senator Bill Galvano at the Phil Galvano Golf Classic. and their lives. And I’m fascinated by what people consider art.”

Mary Glass’ eyes glow with enthusiasm when she mentions how MEF formed in 2018 the Manatee Arts Education Council, which helps promote, celebrate, and support the arts. The council has hosted two Arts Alive celebrations and Arts Rise and Shine – an arts leadership event held at FELD Entertainment.

“An arts education is so important because it encourages students to create, collaborate, and problem-solve,” said Mary Glass, who vividly remembers the exciting night an original Theo Wujcik painting was delivered to her family home just before a rainstorm. “It opens up opportunities to grow– just life in general.

Creativity is going to be the next frontier for job opportunities. We had the industrial and then the tech. Now creativity is going to play a key role in future jobs.”

Glass Family celebrating the holidays on Snead Island who navigated Sarasota and Manatee County waterways has glowed inside her all along. When just a lone Hungry Howie’s rested among fields, Mary Glass settled in as one of the first residents of Lakewood Ranch – 26 years ago.

“Do you know who told me this area was going to be the next big thing?” Mary Glass asked, pausing for a moment. “My mother did. We drove out there, and I put down the deposit that day.”

Viewing Manatee County like her mother, Mary Glass professes a deep love for the

community that has shaped her life.

“I see Manatee County like my mother did,” said Mary Glass. “She loved, loved, loved this county and always focused on what the county had to offer.”

That perspective shines as a relief to all who cherish the many talents of Mary Glass.

“We don’t have to worry about her going off somewhere to do big, grand things,” said Thompson. “We don’t have to worry because she is doing big, grand things here.”

It’s no surprise Mary Glass has cultivated and supported forward-thinking and innovative ideas for MEF. Her reputation for listening echoes that of her mother’s.

“She is always committed to finding out ways to learn more and get updates on research-based, new programs,” said Thompson. “She will get on board with programs and do anything she can to help raise money for funding.”

Setting her teacup down for a moment, Mary Glass proudly lifted her chin and smiled broadly, preparing to reveal a fun fact. The pioneering, 12-year-old spirit

Mary raises a toast to Mother Pat at her ‘Celebration of Life’ at The Crosley Estate back in February.

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A LEGACY IS NOT WHAT WE DO FOR OURSELVES, IT’S WHAT WE DO FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

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To Fidget or To Spin?

WORDS: Christa Hardin 12

T

here are some of us in the world who fidget a lot by nature.

While we’re admitting to it, let’s just own it that we likely also kicked extra hard in our mother’s womb, and we haven’t sat perfectly still for long since then.

As kids, these kinds of people chewed pencils, or their nails, or perhaps a keychain or a necklace. Often, they colored all over their hands with a pen or sought out the strange satisfaction of peeling dried glue off their hands (and as I type this, it takes one to know one, indeed!)

Not only do these kinds of kids still exist, with the advent of technology and with the advent of a hypermodern at-yourfingertips kind of world and improved research methodology.

We know that the need for healthy outlets for all the sensory processing we’re doing exists in an even greater crowd.

Indeed, now that the kids and adults adjust to being back in school and work post-Covid life, fidgeting will once more take a front seat, especially since they potentially won’t have their masks with which to fidget or the Zoom screens to hide their stimming behind (or below).

So here’s the question? Do we teach the kids to learn the art of staying still or tell them they can use a fidget?

But first, for those late to the game, what are fidgets?

Fidgets are toys designed to keep stimulating or stimming

studies suggest kids with ADHD, ASD, or SPD do better with them, and there are plenty of classroom teachers who say they create a distraction for the kids who aren’t using them.

So here’s a tip! To balance yourself or your child out, if you know your child gets easily distracted in school with excess energy, anxiety, or one of the above disorders, first ask your pediatrician for tips.

Next, talk to your child’s teacher (or your boss, if you‘re an adult) about bringing a fidget before you just assume it’s the best idea. There are huge varieties you may find agreement on, from rubber add-ons to the bottoms of desks, stim toys they can mold, necklaces or keychains they can suck on, and of course, the classic handy fidget spinners.

behaviors at a minimum. Stimming means self-stimulating behaviors to relax and calm a busy mind. Thus the toys and objects are designed to soothe those who struggle with it, especially when it’s less than ideal to be chattering in classrooms or when tired parents are trying to rest.

Ideally, it may seem that children should learn how to self-soothe without movement or objects, but the world we live in is not made for just one kind of person. We increasingly see many people are kinetic learners, and this is not always a positive or negative thing - it’s just a difference.

Some who have ADHD are supremely creative, energetic, and out-of-the-box thinkers. However you view it, for many, stimming is just an unconscious mechanism and not something someone is intentionally doing to misbehave.

However, even with these important factors to consider empathically, there are some downfalls to fidgets.

Some kids who use fidgets fail to complete their tasks since they can also be quite distracting in the classroom. Multiple research

Teachers have had such a hard year with COVID; please remember this. Even if your child’s teacher says yes to bringing a fidget, parents should talk to their kids about how and why fidgets are a learning and coping tool, not a toy, so students understand the purpose they’re serving.

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I

t is often said that fire and water are the Yin and Yang of the existing world. They create the requisite nature of rising and falling, ebbing and flowing, and remaining stoic and wilting.

If you ask East Manatee Firefighter Erik Nicholson, he will say that fire and water are essential elements that have contributed to his success and passions in life.

Since becoming a volunteer firefighter 20 years ago and rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Erik has seen first-hand what fires, vehicle accidents, addictions, and negligence can do to families.

His compassionate spirit led him to begin a fishing tournament in 2006 that would benefit a small charity called the Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida.

This non-profit is committed to enhancing the lives of young burn survivors. Their goal is to offer an opportunity for children to engage in activities and build quality friendships with other children who have experienced similar trials and tribulations.

Through the support of local fire service organizations, hospitals, and businesses, their hope is they can inspire and motivate children and their families to succeed in society.

Erik Nicholson

The fire aspect is well-known to Erik through his profession, and the water aspect fills his world in many personal ways. He is a father of two sons, and their joyful time together is spent on the water, whether that be boating, swimming, or fishing.

As a result of these shared water passions, Erik found a way to support his charity through the annual fishing tournament, sweetly titled, The Fire Charity Fishing Tournament, which this year took place between June 11-13 at the beautiful Riverside Park in Palmetto.

Since its humble beginnings, the tournament has been quite successful, becoming what Erik proudly states as a “festival.”

Prior to the recent event, two months back, over $140,000 had been raised and given to the Children’s Burn Foundation. Even though last year was on a smaller in-person scale due to the impact of the pandemic, he decided to host two live streams of the tournament. “The live streams were wildly successful with people from all over the world tuning in,” Erik proudly states. They ended up raising around $10,000 for the charity because the turnout of fishermen and women was so exemplary.

If you say children and burn in the same sentence, that immediately summons attention and a desire to help, which is why Erik appreciates and respects the hearts of all the people who make the tournament possible. Even his two sons took part behind the scenes by stuffing buckets, folding shirts, and preparing items for the volunteers. As Erik said: “They know one day the fire charity tournament will be passed down to them.”

Such pride in his own family and the kindness of strangers makes everything worth it.

One of my favorite quotes from Harry Potter is, “Help would always be given at Hogwarts, to those who deserve it.” Help has been graced upon Erik in many ways for his Fishing Tournament.

He has a relentless and dedicated committee of 35 selfless souls that invigorate the spirit of the charity.

The loyalty of his 2021 sponsors, such as Yellowfin, Smith & Hopen, BMMI, and Water Walker Investments, allowed Erik to add extra value and fun to this year’s festival. He was thankful to the City of Palmetto for allowing the use of Riverside Park.

This venue provided space for the addition of vendors, food trucks, bounce houses, live entertainment, fire trucks, boats, axe throwing, and tiki carvings!

Anglers of all ages savored the event, whether fishing off the old Green Bridge fishing pier for the younger competitors or setting sail towards the inshore and deep shore fishing grounds. The

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younger generation of fishers admired the vessels with their multitude of rods displayed Up high in all their grandeur.

They also relished in their attempt to win prizes and trophies for their catches. Triumphant and smiling in their t-shirts and with bellies full of lunch, they savored the First Responder display with fireboats and joyfully glimpsed the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter out of St. Petersburg. The uniqueness of this festival is one that instilled a sense of excitement whether you were a participant or a curious attendee.

passionate about a cause is the willingness of others to aid in the succession of that cause. Even though there will undoubtedly be winners in the fishing divisions, the true beneficiaries will be the Children’s Burn Center Foundation of Florida, the children and families that it serves, and the community spirit that brought it all to fruition.

The Grand Finale of the festival was on Sunday for the final weighin. Imagine the anticipation of spending all day Saturday and Sunday vying for the biggest and most lucrative fish in the sea.

With a fire in their hearts, the anglers spoke their mighty words and whispered their siren song to the fish in the water below.

The lure of cash prizes and other awards was a backdrop to the goal of reeling in the fish of their dreams. While the anglers seemed jolly and composed on the outside, their hearts were still focused on the Children’s Burn Center Foundation of Florida and what their donation meant to these families. That is the true spirit behind the tournament, and Erik was extremely pleased that these fishers had this value in mind.

In prior years, the fishers challenged State and world record fish.

They triumphantly reeled in fish, such as Swordfish, Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, and Tuna. One astounding capture was a Warsaw Grouper that weighed almost 300 pounds. Erik smiled: “You know you can turn on the news and see so many things going wrong. When you see the joy in these kids’ eyes holding the first fish they ever caught, holding the first trophy they ever won, or touching a swordfish in awe, then the magic happens.”

Erik is humbled and honored that the community came together for such a great cause.

Many ideas begin in the mind of one. But much like a seed in the ground, it grows and flourishes in time, much like the way Erik’s fishing tournament to benefit burn victims blossomed into a festival for more to appreciate. The beauty of being truly

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A Slick NEW ADDITION… WORDS: Kara Chalmers PICTURES: Whitney Patton

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ob Slicker realized his dream of owning a restaurant when he opened Slicker's Eatery in February in Cortez. Slicker's vision for his place, which he and his daughter Molly Slicker formulated together, was specific: to focus on kindness, goodness, and intentionality.

For running a restaurant, that vision translates to taking care of people. He

offers employees health insurance and does fundraisers for local charities.

He and his team treat customers with kindness by making time to speak to each one every night and offering them high-quality, all-natural ingredients and healthy dishes and portions.

"Fresh, fast, sharable plates" is how Slicker describes the menu. He's proud he doesn't have fryers and doesn't use frozen food.

"First thing, I took the fryers out," Slicker said of the restaurant. "My walk-in cooler freezer has paper towels in it."

Finally, Slicker's vision means being sustainable: using locally sourced seafood, ice cream, and baked goods, and decorating with thrift store finds, plants, and Bob and Molly Slicker's own books (authored by Steve Martin, Lucille Ball, Yoko Ono, and Anne Lamott, to name a few).

After spending decades in the food industry, Slicker said he got tired of seeing food being thrown out. To combat this, he intentionally serves small portions. It turns out that if customers are still hungry, they just order another of the menu's "Small Plates" or a dessert. They often do not, but instead leave the restaurant feeling satisfied but not stuffed, Slicker said.

For example, two of the small plates – the Whipped Goat Cheese Bruschetta and the Seared Ahi Tuna Crostini – both require French baguette slices. When Operations Manager Barry Smith realized that preparing the two dishes correctly resulted in a lot of wasted bread, he developed a recipe for a new dessert that would use the leftover bread. The dessert – Nancy's bourbon-glazed Bread Pudding – named after Smith's mother, Nancy Copeman, has since become one of the restaurant's most popular.

O n J u n e 1, S l i c ke r 's c e l e b ra te d "National Say Something Nice Day." The restaurant gave a few lucky patrons a free "Encouragemint," which is one of Slicker's signature craft cocktails. It's made with Bombay Sapphire gin, orgeat

syrup, lemon juice, orange bitters, and mint leaves. This drink is always given to customers along with a compliment from the server.

"Cortez deserves a restaurant like this," Slicker said.

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Kindness, G oodness, and Intentionality On November 23, 2020, Slicker was between jobs after working as General Manager at the Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar in Cortez for ten years. Prior to that, he had managed other local restaurants and had owned and operated D Coy Ducks in Holmes Beach. In that time, Slicker, who is today 58, had developed a reputation as an affable, fun, and positive member of the community. "I think I'm a funny guy, so I get to make people smile," he said.

Also, Slicker was well-known locally for his personal generosity and his involvement in several Bradenton-area charities. "If there was a charity event happening, I was there," Slicker said. "I'm that guy that just says "yes."

The night of November 23, at an Anna Maria Island Rotary Club event at the Beach House in Bradenton Beach, the club named Slicker its "Businessperson of the Year." Slicker was honored but

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surprised since he technically did not have a job at the time. After the event, he went online and googled "restaurants for sale near me." Up popped a property he knew well (and later found out was posted for sale mere minutes before he pressed the search button). Slicker already knew the property's owner, so he called him first thing in the morning. Before long, Slicker was a restaurant owner.

"It's very rewarding to see this dream of his come true," said Molly Slicker, 28, of her father. She added that for years, she had watched him make other people's restaurants successful.

"He dreamed, he saved, he worked," said Molly, who works as Slicker's Eatery's creative director. "He wants to make the world a brighter, kinder place."

A Dream Come True On January 1, Slicker took ownership of the restaurant, which is located at 12012 Cortez Rd. W. and which previously housed Pigout BBQ and Southern Soul

Food. For six weeks, Slicker and his team, made up of Molly, Smith, Slicker's bar manager Max Schumacher, and other friends and family, worked 10-hour days, gutting, cleaning, painting and furnishing.

Molly's fiancée Richard Parry drove down every weekend from his and Molly's home in Orlando to help.

At night, some of them would work on creating (and testing) the 15 craft cocktails that are now on Slicker's menu. Schumacher, whom Slicker calls a "shaman" (and he calls the bartenders "spirit guides"), makes from scratch all the "elixirs" used in the craft cocktails.

During those six weeks of prepping the restaurant for opening, Molly secretly compiled photos that would ultimately grace the restaurant's walls. Each photo means something special to one of the team members, whether it is a photo of Slicker with his bike with a two-year-old Molly strapped into a bicycle seat or a photo of kitchen staffer Chris Ferrero's favorite view of the mountains, shot from

his aunt's porch in upstate New York.

Molly stayed late one night decorating so that the rest of the employees would be surprised the next day.

"I was sitting over there, drying my eyes," Slicker said, describing that morning.

The restaurant's soft opening on Feb. 10 and 11 was also a fundraiser for the Bradenton-based Blessing Bags Project, which provides large Ziploc bags filled

with travel-size sunscreen, personal hygiene products, and hand sanitizers to homeless people. Customer's paid $30 to get in and The Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust matched each donation.

It meant the restaurant was able to donate nearly $11,000 to Blessing Bags before it even technically opened its doors.

Slicker hopes to open Slicker's Eatery

franchises eventually, and whenever a new restaurant opens, it will hold a soft opening that benefits a local charity, he said.

Slicker's Eatery opened to the public on February 12, and there is indoor and shaded outdoor seating. The restaurant takes reservations, even for the stools at the bar. Call them at (941) 251-9428 or visit slickerseatery.com.

The Food…

Kurt Clennan, Slicker's nephew, is the restaurant's executive chef. He lives in Modesto, CA, and has created more than 30 menus in the course of his career. In January, Clennan flew here and spent 15 weeks training the local chefs in preparing Slicker's menu items. Since opening, the menu has been so well-liked that there have been very few changes, such as the additions of the Shrimp and Octopus Ceviche and a catch of the day.

"It's kind of all over the place," said Operations Manager Barry Smith of the menu, noting the Cuban and Asian offerings among other globally inspired dishes. "It's intentional, though.

It's meant to touch different corners of the globe."

The most popular entrée is the Shrimp Gambitto, which is pan-seared shrimp, grilled tomato, fresh mozzarella, shaved parmesan, fresh basil, and spaghetti, tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. The dish can be prepared vegetarian-style, with vegetables instead of shrimp, or gluten-free, with vegetables instead of pasta.

Another signature entrée is the Bánh mì, which is smoked pork belly, white bean pâté, pickled root vegetables, cilantro, and jalapeno on a crusty Vietnamese baguette. It is served with Cortezian potato salad.

The menu also offers specialty sandwiches, a flatbread of the day, a petite filet, and a spicy tuna poke bowl. The Cuban dishes Arroz Congrí, Mojo Pork, and the Arroz Congrí con Pollo feature Cuban black beans and rice and mojomarinated chicken breast or pork, and they're served with fruit salsa, onion, cilantro, and orange.

One of the most popular of the small plates is the Spicy Octopus – tenderized, marinated, and grilled octopus, with olives, capers, and a slightly spicy, yet sweet, herb vinaigrette.

There are numerous gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options on the menu. One example of all three is the Grilled Portobello Mushroom, which is marinated with roasted garlic

and fresh herbs, grilled and topped with a balsamic reduction.

Besides the bread pudding mentioned above, desserts include the Chai Latte Crème Brûlée with Strawberries, the Key Lime Pudding Cake with Almond and Fruit, and a Chocolate Fondue Plate.

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Stand out From the Crowd

Be bold, be different, and be creative with a colorful Florida Arts License Plate that not only stands out, but also helps support local arts organizations, programs, and activities in the county.

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Meet Your Lakewood Ranch Medical Group Team Primary Care and Specialty Services

Primary Care

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Your healthcare partners in all phases of life

Care for women during the most sensitive times of life

Kelly Duggin, MD Family Medicine

Joel Hallam, DO, FACOOG Obstetrics and Gynecology

Claire McGill, DO Family Medicine

Terrell W. Martin, MD Obstetrics and Gynecology

General Surgery

Indo S. Menon, MD Internal Medicine

Advanced procedures, including minimally invasive robotic surgery

Suzette Pinto, MD Family Medicine

David W. Dexter, MD, FACS General Surgery

Denise Digregorio, ARNP Nurse Practitioner

Alexa Kinder, PA-C General Surgery

For appointments, call: 866-515-9777.

For information and locations, visit lakewoodranchmedicalgroup.com

Member of Manatee Physician Alliance For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 210207-1837 7/21

Kick off a Season for Learning Mosaic welcomes students, faculty and staff back for a successful school year! We also salute the parents, community members and other businesses supporting education across the region.

mosaicfloridaphosphates.com

Every Fall, Mosaic employees look forward to partnering with schools on environmental and agricultural initiatives—from 4H and FFA to STEAM efforts like the Pinnacle Formula One Race Team and Myakka Elementary’s Math Acaletics Program.

Let’s work together to do what we can in the safest way possible to cultivate the most valuable crop of all – a bright future. ®

We help the world grow the food it needs.

Three campuses.

One mission.

Easterseals Academy specializes in serving Manatee and Sarasota county students, aged Pre-K to 22 years old, who are challenged by autism as well as developmental, physical, learning and mild behavioral disabilities.

Your child’s education experience will be enriched with art, music, Spanish, yoga, organic agriculture, nutrition, movement, PT-OT-speech-equine-behavioral therapies enhanced with neurofeedback, employment opportunity training as well as family support.

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Academy Learn more today at EastersealsAcademy.org.

MPAC MOvIE NIGHT PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

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SALUDde Florida

la

Manatee County

ELC INSIDER CONTENTS: 37

Get Ready For School!

38

Classroom Management...

41

Book Nooks Are Back!

42

Childcare Provider Directory

48

Ready For Kindergarten?

50

Raising Bilingual Children...

53

ELC News

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DO YOU NEED HELP PAYING FOR CHILD CARE? VPK - FREE preschool for all 4-year-olds residing in FL regardless of family income School Readiness - A child care subsidy based on income and family size for children aged birth to 12

Call (941) 757-2910 or visit www.elc-manatee.org today!

Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

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Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Registration #CH27655 “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.”

GET READY FOR SCHOOL! R

esearch proves that high-quality early care and education are important in so many ways for young children. Brain development, healthy relationships, and success in school depends on quality early care.

The Office of Early Learning supports quality in child care programs that provide School Readiness (SR) services through: • SR Program Assessment: Each program is evaluated yearly with the Classroom Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS®). CLASS measures the quality of teacherchild interactions. Each program’s score is available on the Department of Children and Families (DCF) CARES website.

• Developmental Screening: Upon parental consent, each child receiving SR services is screened for developmental delays. This helps child care providers give each child the support they need to grow and learn.

• Certified Coaches & Technical Assistance Specialists, Infant-Toddler Specialists, and Inclusion Specialists: Trained early learning coalition staff provides support to child care providers and teachers. This support improves and maintains the quality of the program. It also helps programs meet the needs of all children and families.

• Professional Development: Early childhood teachers and staff receive training, education, and coaching to help them better serve children and help them improve their skills.

• Child Assessment: SR programs track children’s development and learning. They use a variety of approved, age-appropriate tools.

For more information on the Florida School Readiness program, please visit: www.elc-manatee.org/School-Readiness

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Proactive Classroom Management…

I

WORDS: Amanda Morin - www.edutopia.org

n my years as a classroom teacher, I shied away from using behavior charts. I wondered: How does such a system build a child’s sense of positive self-worth? I know it can be tempting to use behavior charts to encourage prosocial behavior with preschoolers—they’re visual and easy to track. But I worried that they might have unintended consequences for impressionable young learners.

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At a conference on proactive behavior strategies, Dr. Julie Causton, coauthor of the book From Behaving to Belonging: The Inclusive Art of Supporting Students Who Challenge Us, made this point dramatically. She shared a story about a professional development workshop she had run during which she had all the participants write their names on a whiteboard. She also asked them to provide a phone number for a loved one.

When an educator at the workshop would repeatedly whisper to tablemates, Causton would eventually call their loved one—in front of the whole workshop—and tell them about the behavior.

The point was this: Adults feel shame when they’re called out in front of their peers and get reported to a loved one—and this is what some teachers do to students when using behavior charts.

That’s not to say that behavior charts are bad: Some teachers, for example, use “caught being good” points when the class follows co-created behavior norms to encourage respect and responsibility without calling negative attention to individual students. But behavior charts may unintentionally tell students we think they can’t meet the expectations of the classroom. They may also make learning stressful and cause anticipatory anxiety that we might tell the person students love the most that they’ve been a disappointment.

respect you ask them to show you.

• Valuing and encouraging different perspectives in class conversations.

3. Choice: With choice, you work with your students to determine

what they’re learning, why they’re learning it, and how they prefer to learn it. Allowing students choice in your classroom activities and culture teaches negotiation and compromise and gives students a sense of control over their environment and actions.

Moving Beyond Behavior Charts One classroom management alternative to behavior charts is a 4 Cs approach, which asks teachers to adopt a system of belief that presumes good intent and to explicitly share that belief with preschoolers.

1. Compassionate

curiosity: Compassionate curiosity is a practice that comes from trauma-informed teaching.

It asks teachers to act as nonjudgmental investigators to better understand what’s going on in the minds and lives of students. The more you’re willing to recognize there are things you don’t know about your students’ experience or what they’re feeling, the more able you are to see behavior as a reflection of those feelings.

To exercise compassionate curiosity, instead of reacting to behavior, you can try pausing, asking caring questions like, “Is there something important on your mind today?” and then listening to the answers with your full attention.

Preschoolers may not always be able to fully verbalize the answer to your questions. In giving them your full attention, you will likely also observe nonverbal cues that can provide insight.

2. Collaboration:

Compassionate curiosity leads well into building a collaborative classroom. Students who know you’ll be curious instead of furious are more likely to feel comfortable showing you who they are, what they know, and what they want to learn more about. Investing the time and effort to get to know who students are, provides them with an incentive to invest in the classroom.

Collaboration can look like: • Talking to students about their interests and passions.

• Tailoring activities to meet their interests.

• Teaching students to ask and answer questions, both of you and each other.

• Treating and talking to students with the same level of

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A natural consequence is the unavoidable result of an action. For instance, a student who chooses not to wear mittens in the winter will end up with cold hands.

Logical consequences are also related to actions but happen when we intervene before the action results in harm to the student. If the student above wanted to play on an icy patch that was off-limits, the natural consequence—falling and getting hurt—would have to be replaced with a logical consequence, like restricting their play to an area less desirable to them.

Both natural and logical consequences show students the connection between what they do and what happens next, allowing them to learn from their mistakes and know that they have the power to change their behavior.

While there are things that may be non-negotiable from either a safety or curricular perspective—or both—consider whether you really need to say “no, we can’t do that,” and whether you can instead say, “let’s give that a try today.”

4. Clear consequences: Using clear and logical consequences

is a way to make sure the reaction matches the action and is the same for every student. It begins by using pre-correcting and prompting to let students know the behavioral expectations in a given situation. After they have been given a chance to correct, if they still mismanage the situation, a natural or logical consequence occurs—one that is reasonable, is related to the problem, and results from the action.

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We need to give preschoolers a safe space in which to develop positive self-esteem and self-regulation skills. They need to know that we care about why they’re having a tough time and that we want to help them. ©2021 George Lucas Educational Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Edutopia® and Lucas Education Research™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.

BOOK NOOKS ARE BACK! WORDS: Rachel Spivey The pandemic surprised us all, and in its wake, many things changed. For us at the Early Learning Coalition (ELC), one such change occurred within our Book Nooks Program. Pre - COVID 19, Book Nooks were located at several community-based locations, under brightly colored displays, where families often frequented.

Book Nooks serve as a source of free family entertainment where children select a book and read while waiting for services. Book Nooks are a great example of how seemingly unrelated organizations such as restaurants or doctors' offices and ELC can form simple yet creative partnerships to better the entire community. When COVID hit, many businesses closed their doors, spaced out waiting rooms, and Book Nooks were packed away to prevent the spread of germs.

Almost a year later, as the world moved forward and things began to reopen, a local champion for improved literacy in Manatee County reached out to the ELC, hoping to surprise her husband, John. Amanda Horne, co-owner of Anna Maria Oyster Bar and creator of the impactful Dive Into Reading Program, wanted to restore Book Nooks in their three restaurants to celebrate John's birthday. The ELC welcomed the opportunity, and soon books began to reappear in their Book Nooks. We invite

you to celebrate, along with John and us, by enjoying a delicious meal and a delightful book!

Please remember that your child's reading success can be positively impacted by sharing just one book each day! Reading isn't just for bedtime either; read books while waiting for appointments and over family meals. If you would like to host a Book Nook at your local business or would like to suggest a location, please contact us at communityengagement@elc-manatee.org.

It is our mission to get a book into the hand of every child in Manatee County!

Childcare Provider Directory A Child's Galaxy Preschool 4417 20th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-755-6302

Boys And Girls Club at Harllee Middle 6423 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-7027

Adventures In Learning 712 61st Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-1816

Boys And Girls Club at Lincoln Memorial Middle 305 17th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-721-6840

A Growing Start Childcare Center, LLC 525 3rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-9750

Boys And Girls Club Palmetto 1600 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-1268

A Little Schoolhouse Christian Academy 11740 U.S Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-776-1973

Bradenton Christian School West 1305 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-404-4491

All Gods Children Preschool 11107 Palmbrush Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-739-2776

Bradenton Early Learning Academy 7700 Cortez Road West Bradenton, FL 34210 941-216-3305

A Plus Growing Academy 800 10th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0797

Bright Angels Academy & Daycare, Inc. 1716 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-962-0472

A Readiness Learning Academy 9045 59th Avenue Circle East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-727-9354

Bright Beginnings Academy 614 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-7910

A Readiness Learning Academy 2 6130 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4927

Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool, LLC 1617 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-251-5436

Bella Rose Learning Center 708 32nd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-749-2800

CapoKids Martial Arts Preschool 11534 Palmbrush Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-922-4520

Bible Baptist Church of Palmetto Academy 1750 6th Avenue West Unit 101 Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-4958

Children's Nest of Manatee, Inc. 5051 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-753-9024

Boys And Girls Club DeSoto 5231 34th Street West Bradenton, FL 34210 941-758-3828

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Children's Nest of Manatee 2 600 7th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34207 941-479-7789

Community Christian School 5500 18th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-756-8748

Family Life Community School 3301 Moccasin Wallow Road Palmetto, FL 34221 941-281-6412

CORE Early Education And Learning 605 13th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-9069

First For Kids Children's Christian Center 603 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-0824

Countryside Academy For Children 5807 18th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-304

Forza Child Development Center, Inc. 8605 Erie Road Parrish, FL 34219 941-545-6380

Creative Kids Connection 408 75th Street Northwest Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-8687

Foundation For Dreams 16110 Dream Oaks Place Bradenton, FL 34212 941-746-5659

CRPE Academy 1621 66th Avenue Terrace East Sarasota FL, 34243 (941) 932-0984

Free To Grow Academy 5304 7th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-254-4268

DC's Child Care Center 5105 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-6090

Genesis Learning Academy 1420 6th Avenue East Palmetto FL, 34221 941-723-7358

Dixon-Wright Family Day Care Home 1016 31st Street East Palmetto, FL 34211 (941) 721-0232

Grandma's Babysitting Center 1728 26th Avenue East Bradenton FL, 34208 941-708-9864

Doodle Bugs! Children's Learning Academy 11015 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34221 (941) 721-0330

Great Minds Childcare 1018 35th Avenue West Bradenton FL, 34205 941-896-5319

Drama Kids International Multiple locations in Sarasota & Bradenton 941-922-8121

Growing Hands Learning Center 5743 69th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-845-4873

Easter Seals of Southwest Florida 350 Braden Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7637 Education Time 5165 33rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-7332 Evans Family Day Care Home 1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640 Faith Preschool of Faith UCC 4850 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-7895

Happy Cubs 6207 21st Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-798-6173 Happy Go Lucky 1606 55th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-752-4608 Hawkins Family Day Care Home 439 47th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-405-2405 House of JBaby's Preschool 1300 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-7415

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Imagine Charter School at North Manatee 9275 49th Avenue East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-981-5345

Kidzone Preschool 116 27th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-2727

In The Beginning Learning Center 5503 12th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-567-6106

La Petite Academy 37th 4301 37th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-756-5227

It's A Small World, Inc. Daycare & Preschool 900 3rd Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-405-4532

La Petite Academy SR 70 6919 53rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-753-2336

Jackson Family Day Care Home 6715 36th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-5097

La Petite Academy Vintage Road 4507 Vintage Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-7677

Johnson Family Day Care Home 2403 Lehigh Avenue Bradenton, FL 34207 941-242-1831

Lane Family Day Care Home 602 31st Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-1774

Joy Learning & Development Academy 2515 37th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-721-0684

Laugh and Learn Academy LLC 202 3rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-281-2930

Jump Start Preschool of the Arts 11005 Passage Drive Bradenton, FL 34211 941-747-8900

Learning! Kidz Zone 2211 53rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-254-7859

Kiddie Academy of Lakewood Ranch 4225 Concept Court Bradenton, FL 34211 941-727-9072

Learning Unlimited 6210 17th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-5838

Kids Academy Plus 57th 1415 57th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-727-1841

Learning With Love 2712 47th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-751-4989

Kids Academy Plus 38th 5415 38th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-3678

Let's Learn Early Childhood Center 2118 1st Street West Bradenton, FL 34208 941-567-4279

Kids Academy Plus HL 4635 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-524-1045

Lil' Angels Daycare Inc. 1415 7th Avenue East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-0442

Kids On The Rock 1401 14th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-4567

Little Einstein's Academy 3631 Tallevast Road Bradenton, FL 34243 941-894-6505

Kids R Kids 4 Florida 11520 Palmbrush Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-727-9990

Little Manatee's Cove, LLC 707 3rd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 (941) 405-7991

Little People's Place 374 Scott Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-8741

Palmetto Youth Center 501 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0783

Love Comes First Preschool & Child Care Center 8630 SR 70 East Bradenton, FL 34202 941-755-7800

Pathways to Learning LLC 2601 7th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-8802

Loving Hands Daycare 1204 60th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-755-6306

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch North 5730 New Haven Blvd.

Bradenton, FL 34211 813-230-2827

Manatee County Family YMCA 3805 59th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-798-9622

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch Town Center 9127 Town Center Parkway Bradenton, FL 34202 941-373-6363

Manatee United Methodist Preschool 315 15th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-750-6739

Puppy Patch Preschool 1116 35th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-6648

Mini Me Kids Daycare 1902 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-251-3504

Rayitos De Sol 1019 61st Avenue Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-565-7459

Miss Darla's Home Day Care, Inc. 401 43rd Street Blvd. E Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-8944

RCMA Palmetto Child Development Center 2725 16th Avenue East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-723-4563

Morgan Family Day Care Home 2809 8th Street Court West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-745-2401

Reaching For The Stars Academy 2239 14th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-3901

My First Steps of Bradenton, Inc. 3815 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-727-5511

Risen Savior Academy 14605 59th Avenue East Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211 941-756-7545

Myakka Early Learning Center, Inc. 37190 Singletary Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-2605

Sand & Buckets Daycare 3407 17th Street Court East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-748-4799

Next Generation Academy 4636 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-251-2491

Sandman Preschool & Academy 924 Wilmerling Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-755-2591

Our Kids West 2425 38th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-752-1715

School District of Manatee County Professional Support Center 2501 63rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6550

Palma Sola Early Learning Academy 7315 1st Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-795-0788

School for Constructive Play 6608 Marina Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941-778-2210

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Smarty Pants Preschool LLC 832 62nd Street Circle East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-7710

Sunshine Academy & Daycare 2520 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-3143

Smarty Pants Preschool 2 904 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-896-4796

Sunshine's School of Fish 5715 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 342097 941-580-4954

Smiling Faces Academy, Inc. 910 19th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-756-1234

Taylor Family Day Care Home 3906 29th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-755-8418

Smiling Faces Junior Academy, Inc. 1720 11th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-3925

Teachable Moments Learning Center LLC 4200 32nd Street West Anna Maria, FL 34205 941-900-1022

Sproutlings Kids SFCP Too, Inc. 1222 36th Avenue East Ellenton, FL 34222 941-776-4947

The Center of Anna Maria Island, Inc. 407 Magnolia Avenue Anna Maria, FL 34216 941-778-1908

Sproutlings Kids SFCP Too, Inc. 3411 US Highway 301 North Ellenton, FL 34222 941-845-4484 Stapleton Family Day Care Home 1110 42nd Terrace East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-580-0510 Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning Morton Clark 1707 15th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-750-6667 Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning Palmetto 1315 2nd Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-750-6667 Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning Parkland 6432 Parkland Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 941-750-6667 Step Up Suncoast Rise & Shine Early Learning West Bradenton 2531 9th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-750-6667 Sunny Daze Preschool East 9922 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-750-0042

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The Goddard School 14534 Arbor Green Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-752-6600 The Learning Experience Lakewood Ranch 14425 Arbor Green Trail Bradenton, FL 34202 941-251-4046 The Learning Post Child Care 623 30th Street East Palmetto, FL 34221 941-536-4858 The Myakka City Community Center 10070 Wauchula Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-8114 The Proven LLC 911 Rye Road East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-739-3929 Thompson Academy LLC 1212 43rd Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-748-2162 Tiny Tots University 930 9th Street Drive West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-723-9072

Toad Hall Children's Center of Bradenton 4004 8th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-3951

Tree Of Life Preschool 2200 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-1756

Toddler's Ark FCCH 711 36th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-879-2407

Trinity Children's Center 3200 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34205 941-748-8608

Toddler's Inn Child Care Center LLC 2611 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-4631

Woodland Early Childhood Center 9607 SR 70 East Bradenton FL, 34202 941-753-8588

Childcare Resource & Referral (941) 757-2910

Make a difference, donate today at www.fromcradletocollegefoundation.org!

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What Your Child Needs to Know to be

Ready for Kindergarten Make the most of the time before kindergarten by using the Florida Early Learning Standards: 4 Years Old to Kindergarten. This quick reference sheet can be used as a guide as you help prepare your child for kindergarten success and beyond. This list contains suggested skills or abilities, but should not be considered fully comprehensive of all possible skills and abilities a five-year-old child should possess.

Social and Emotional Development ¾ Recognizes and responds with compassion when peers are upset ¾ Can communicate feelings and emotions ¾ Has positive relationships with peers and adults

Physical Development ¾ Demonstrates physical play, direction and spatial awareness (e.g., running, jumping, balancing, riding a tricycle) ¾ Eats and drinks without assistance ¾ Attends to personal hygiene

¾ Plays well with others ¾ Can problem solve with peers and adults ¾ Can describe personal characteristics (e.g., hair color, age, gender)

Social Studies

Creative Expression Through the Arts ¾ Enjoys participating in musical activities (e.g., dance, singing, planning instruments) ¾ Uses drawing, painting, or other form of art to express thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

¾ Identifies themselves as an individual and how they are different from others ¾ Understands the use of rules within the family and classroom ¾ Understands the use of geographic resources (e.g., globes, maps or GPS) ¾ Understands the role of community workers

Approaches to Learning ¾ Demonstrates curiosity, eagerness and persistence to a task ¾ Shows creativity, inventiveness, reflection and planning for a new task

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What Your Child Needs to Know to be Ready for Kindergarten

1

Language and Literacy

Mathematical Thinking

¾ Communicates clearly with peers and adults

¾ Recognized sets of objects without counting (subitizing)

¾ Listens for personal understanding

¾ Counts to 31

¾ Follows two-step directions

¾ Manipulates sets (counting objects, separating and combining sets)

¾ Speaks clearly, in complete sentences ¾ Continually increasing the understanding and use of new vocabulary words ¾ Uses age-appropriate grammar (e.g., possessive pronouns, plurals, past tense) ¾ Continually uses extended sentences ¾ Ask and answers questions

¾ Creates simple patterns using different objects ¾ Can identify, describe and create basic shapes (circle, square, rectangle and triangle) ¾ Uses terms such as besides, below, next to, behind and under to describe the location of an object

¾ Enjoys looking at and reading books, both independently and with others ¾ Understands how to care for a book ¾ Can retell a story

Scientific Inquiry

¾ Can identify letters ¾ Can separate compound words into two separate words

¾ Identifies and utilizes all five senses

¾ Can combine two words to create a new compound word

¾ Uses various technologies to support exploration and learning

¾ Can separate or combine syllables and words

¾ Understands the difference between and observes living things and non-living things

¾ Names most letters (upper case and lower case) ¾ Can write own name

¾ Makes predictions about how an environment can change an object (e.g., water, wind, temperature)

This content is provided by the Florida Department of Education.

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What Your Child Needs to Know to be Ready for Kindergarten

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Raising Bilingual Children…

WORDS: Linguistic Society of America Why want bilingual children?

There are many reasons, but the two most common are: 1. The parents speak different languages (say, an American woman and a Spanish man).

2. The parents speak the same language but live in a community where most people speak something else (say, a Korean couple living in the USA).

In the first case, both the mother and father may want to use their language when talking to their children.

This is the bilingual home situation. In the second, the parents may want to be able to use their own language at home even though their children also need to function in the world outside the front door.

Don't children get confused when they hear two languages spoken around them?

The short answer is no. Children are incredibly sensitive to the different ways people speak. Even when they only hear one language, they learn very quickly about differences between the way men and women talk, the difference between polite and impolite ways of talking, and so on. For children, the bilingual situation is just a matter of another difference between people!

Fifty years ago, educators throughout North America used to tell immigrant parents that it was better for their children's schooling if they spoke English at home. Some researchers thought that early exposure to two languages put children at a disadvantage. Newer research tells us that this is not so, and there may be advantages to being bilingual (in addition to knowing more than one language), such as more flexible thinking. The disadvantages that earlier research found were generally economic disadvantages linked to the hardships of immigrants' lives.

Bilingual development sometimes results in slightly slower language development than for some monolingual children.

Don't bilingual children ever mix their languages up?

Like adult bilinguals, bilingual children often use words from one language when speaking the other. (This is called codeswitching.) But this doesn't mean they are confused about which language they are speaking. Yet, in speaking to monolinguals, bilingual children are careful to use only the relevant language.

So how do we start teaching our children two languages?

The main thing to keep in mind is that parents don't really "teach" children to speak any more than they teach them to walk or smile. The most important things in language development are exposure and need. If children are exposed to a language in a variety of circumstances with many different people from the time they are born, and if they feel they need the language to interact with the world around them, they will learn it. If they are exposed to two languages in varied circumstances with different people from the moment they are born, and if they need both languages to communicate with the people around them, they will learn both.

Do you really mean that if our children are exposed to two languages from birth, they will learn both, just like that?

No, but children can do this with no difficulty, and it doesn't do them any harm. The hard part is making sure they have enough natural exposure to both languages. Most of the time, one of the two languages you want them to learn will be "more important" somehow, and the trick is to provide enough opportunities for them to use the "less important" one in a way that isn't forced or artificial. If you can manage it, the best way is to put children in situations where only the "less important" language is used so that there is no temptation to mix languages or revert to the "more important" language.

What do you mean by saying that one language is "more important"?

One language is likely to seem more important to children when that language is needed more frequently than the other. For example, suppose the American woman and Spanish man in the bilingual home speak English with each other. The children will notice that English is used in cases where Spanish isn't and think that English is "more important."

But if the same family moves to Spanish, the children will notice that Spanish is used in lots of cases where English isn't and may decide Spanish is "more important." Some children are very sensitive to these differences and may be reluctant to use the "less important" language—especially if other children don't use it. Others don't seem to mind.

When we talk about one language being "more important" here, we're only talking about the children's point of view! Nonetheless, many adult bilinguals are "dominant" in one of their languages.

Even if the differences between their two languages are subtle, most bilinguals feel slightly more at home in one language than the other in certain settings or for talking about certain topics.

Would it be better to start teaching the second language after children have a good start on the first?

No, definitely not, especially in the bilingual home situation where the second language is likely to seem "less important" to the children anyway. Introducing the second language later is just about guaranteed to make them think it's less important and not worth the effort.

The more common problem with the bilingual setting is that the children sometimes reject their home language in favor of the outside language.

My partner and I speak different languages. Should we only speak to our children in our own language if we want them to be bilingual?

Many experts recommend the "one-parent-one-language" method for a bilingual home. The idea is that Mommy (or Mamma) always speaks her own language with the children, and Daddy (or Papa) always speaks his own language with them. This is a

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good basis for a successful bilingual home, but it's not the only one, and even one-parent-one-language can go wrong.

What are some of the problems with one-parentone-language?

One problem can be balance. Children need to hear both languages often and in a variety of circumstances. If they never hear the "less important" language except from one parent, they may not get enough exposure for that language to develop naturally. It is especially true that when both parents understand the "more important" language, the children don't feel they need the "less important" one. In these cases, it is essential to find other sources of exposure and other ways of creating the sense of need.

Monolingual grandparents can be especially helpful! Can you enlist a cousin or grandmother or a paid babysitter who speaks the other language to look after the children? Is there a daycare or playgroup where they can hear the other language? Can you get videos and story tapes in the other language? All of these can make a big difference—especially exposure that involves interaction with other people, not just watching TV. When our children were small, we did things like this to reinforce Italian in a largely English-speaking setting.

Another problem is keeping the situation natural. If children feel that they are being forced to do something weird or embarrassing, they will probably resist it. Explicit rules—say, speaking one language on some days and the other on others—can be very hard to enforce and can help create a negative attitude.

Still, another problem is exclusion. If one of the parents doesn't speak the other's language, the children will know that they are excluding one parent from the conversation every time they say something in another language to their other parent. This may make children reluctant to speak one of the parents' languages when both parents are present. In our experience, a bilingual home is more likely to succeed if both parents at least understand both languages—that way, nobody is ever excluded from a family conversation.

What about siblings?

A second child's arrival can upset the language balance in a bilingual home, and it's common for a second child to be less fully bilingual than the first. Usually, the first child speaks to the second in the "more important" language, increasing the second child's exposure to that language and decreasing the sense of need for the "less important" one. Think about what you want to do about this in advance. Come up with a strategy that fits your own situation—but it's probably worthwhile to try to enlist the older child or children to promote the "less important" language in your home situation.

My children used to speak our home language just fine, but now that they're going to school, they mix it up with English all the time. What can I do?

Relax. Language mixing is normal where everyone speaks both languages. It doesn't mean that the children will forget one language, and it doesn't mean that they can't tell the difference anymore between two languages. If you scold them for speaking English, it may create a negative attitude about the home language and actually make things worse. Instead, create natural situations where the children really need the home language — like calling on those monolingual grandparents again!

You can understand this kind of language mixing if you keep in mind that simple exposure is an important ingredient of children's language development. When your children were small, they were probably more exposed to your home language — say Korean — than they were to English. Now that they are going to school, they are exposed only to English for hours a day, and they are learning all kinds of new words and new ways of using language — but only in English. When they use an English word in a sentence speaking another language, tell them what the word is called in the other language rather than worrying that they're losing their home language. Remember, even if they end up with English as their dominant language, they can still be perfectly competent speakers in another language as well.

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ELC AWARDS $1 0 0 0 SCHOL ARSHIP TO MSA KEY CLUB WINNER . . .

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he Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc (ELC) was delighted to award a $10 0 0 scholarship to Manatee School for the Arts senior Aminata Thiam for her outstanding contribution to the community during her work with the MSA Key Club. Aminata was honored at a recent check presentation at the ELC offices in Palmetto as she prepares to start college at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Kevin Gush, Middle-High School Teacher at MSA, said: “We would like to thank ELC for this generous scholarship awarded to an outstanding student. I have known Aminata since I taught her in 6th Grade English. I instantly recognized her love for volunteering by observing her tutoring her peers without anyone asking her to do it. When she became a Freshman, she started volunteering in MSA Key Club.

She planned events, implemented them, and later evaluated the successes and failures of each aspect of our events. She

is a born leader who leads by example.

I am proud of who she has become and cannot wait to see what she accomplishes later in her life.”

ELC Chief E xecutive O f ficer Paul Sharff said: “The MSA Key Club does a

tremendous amount of work for the local community and has volunteered at many ELC community events. We are delighted to award Aminata this well-deserved scholarship and wish her all the best as she goes off to college.”

KEEPING KIDS SAFE IN CARS!

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he Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc (ELC) has been awarded a $3473 grant from the Service Club of Manatee County to support car seat safety.

The ELC has five fully certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff and regularly hosts classes demonstrating the correct installation of car seats. This

funding will allow the ELC to continue these classes and provide free car seats to local residents.

Almost 90% of car seats are not installed correctly; correctly installed seats have been shown to reduce fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger cars.

Sharon Oakes, ELC Chief Operations Officer, said: “We would like to thank the Service Club of Manatee County for this grant which will continue our important program of teaching caregivers how to keep children safe while they are traveling in cars.”

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LOOKING FOR GUARDIAN ANGELS WORDS: Svetlana Ivashchenko, Executive Director at Children's Guardian Fund 54

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ou may be familiar with the term Guardian ad Litem (GAL).

But do you know how crucial the role is that GALs play in our local community? And can you help meet the need for more of these special people who do so much for children who find themselves in such desperate situations?

Sadly, over 100 Manatee County foster children do not have a GAL volunteer to look out for their needs and to serve as their voice in court. To meet this demand, the GAL Program needs an additional 75-100 local volunteers to represent all children appointed to the Program.

Children who have been removed from their parents due to alleged abuse, neglect, or abandonment enter the Juvenile Dependency system, where a Judge appoints the GAL Program to represent the child's best interest. For a child who has experienced trauma and the loss of parental support, having a GAL volunteer means better developmental and academic results. Locally, the 12th Judicial Circuit GAL Program serves close to 700 Manatee County children who have been removed from their homes for their protection.

Children come into the Juvenile Dependency system when an investigation concludes that they are not safe in their home. A child is removed from her home and placed to live temporarily wherever a place can be found. Then she is moved, again and again, an average of 2.5 times per school year, all while dealing with various childhood traumas.

"Children who don't have an advocate are at risk for falling through the cracks," said 12th Circuit GALP Director Toni Latortue. "I hope that readers will take the first step by visiting our website and submitting a form to talk to someone about becoming an advocate. Our team will guide you through the process and will provide support every step of the way. It is a 10–15-hour monthly commitment, but all my volunteers tell me that they get more out of it than they put in. It's extremely rewarding."

Children with a GAL volunteer are 52 percent less likely to skip a day of school and 37 percent less likely to skip a class, 59 percent more likely to earn better grades, and 55 percent more likely to enroll in post-secondary education. They also are 50

percent less likely to re-enter foster care, have fewer placements while in care, and receive more service.

Once a child is removed from his home, the average stay in foster or state care is 18-24 months.

Over half of the placements are non-licensed, meaning the people who open their homes are doing so on short notice. These are usually relatives (grandparent, aunt, older sibling) or community members (schoolteacher, someone from church, a friend's parent, or coach.)

In such emergencies, the family is often short on resources and relies on community support to meet the needs of the children placed in their care by the state. The Children's Guardian Fund (CGF), the 501(c)(3) fundraising arm of the 12th Judicial Circuit GAL Program, can respond to many of the needs that arise by providing beds and bedding, school clothing, and emergency essentials.

Once the child is situated, the CGF can further assist by supplying normalcy and enrichment opportunities such as playing a team sport, graduation or band fees, summer camp, tutoring, or driving lessons to enable a teen to obtain employment.

The CGF provides over 1,200 children annually with the support and means to achieve a level of normalcy in their lives that they would otherwise not have.

Recently, the CGF, the Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of Manatee County, and the GAL Program teamed up to provide even more

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support to local heroes who step up to care for children in need of a safe place to stay. Thanks to this new partnership, GAL volunteers are now able to connect with a variety of literacy programs offered through the ELC of Manatee County.

Most children in foster and state care do not have a solid foundation of education and struggle to catch up to grade level.

The dropout level before high school graduation is painfully high.

The CGF, in partnership with the GAL Program, can identify children who are falling behind in school and get them the help they need through professional, one-on-one tutoring. Trained tutors use standardized assessment tools to identify gaps in the child's knowledge and fill those gaps in targeted one-on-one sessions. The added access to ELC's literacy programs will further help these vulnerable children struggling academically through no fault of their own.

"We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County for their support through this new partnership," said Jeremy Carter, CGF Board Chair. "They join Goodwill Manasota, Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key, Lakewood Ranch Women's Club, Rotary Club of Longboat Key, and The Great Mates of the Bradenton Yacht Club as one of the many outstanding partners we rely on to help our organization support children in need. My hope now is to see new faces at our Annual Fundraising Luncheon on November 10, 2021. This is our main event of the year and a wonderful opportunity for people interested in our work to learn more and get involved."

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● Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity?

Visit https://www.12gal.com/volunteer or call (941) 5048907 to speak to the GALP recruiter. ● If you would like to support the advocacy efforts of the CGF and GAL Program financially, donations can be made online at www.childrensguardianfund.org or mailed to Children's Guardian Fund, PO Box 49722, Sarasota, FL 34230. For questions, contact Svetlana Ivashchenko, Executive Director – (941) 504-9515 – admin@childrensguardianfund.org

Helping Our Kids Soar Children’s Guardian Guardian Fund Annual Fall Luncheon November 10, 2021 Michael’s on East, Sarasota 12:00pm -1:30pm

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he Children’s Guardian Fund is a non-profit organization that provides for the immediate and ongoing needs of local children removed from abusive and neglectful homes. These vulnerable children get moved on short notice – often losing most of their personal belongings as well as the comfort of familiar surroundings.

We provide for emergency needs such as cribs, school supplies, or other essentials and work to reestablish normal childhood experiences in the lives of the 1,200+ Silver local children in foster and $500 state care.

You're just one person

We invite you to join us in support of local children who have been abused, abandoned, and neglected by purchasing a ticket or sponsorship to this event.

Platinum $2,500

Gol $1,0 d 00

Bronze $250

Ticket $100

Do just one thing to help a child...

Visit www.childrensguardianfund.org/events REGISTRATION#, CH37509. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-HELP-FLA) OR FROM THE WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDACOM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL. OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Crying Without Tears…

WORDS: Cindy Spray

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r ying W ithout Tears isn't just a title I gave my book. It's a true testament to how I couldn't let some of my emotions get the best of me during the most difficult time of childhood. The fear instilled into me as I tried to navigate through a life of child abuse that began at an early age was more than a little girl should have to handle. But it is what I had to do. I had to protect my younger siblings from the life I was already living. I didn't write this story; I lived it. More importantly, I survived it!

I've worked hard to succeed in my personal and professional life.

I didn't want anyone to know my past because I didn't want to bring shame to my family and to be honest, I was embarrassed.

When others would talk about childhood memories and share wonderful stories of vacations and family time, I would listen and could only imagine how wonderful that kind of life must have been. I see a childhood from a different lens and sharing it was something I had decided to keep to myself until now.

It started by sharing small details of my childhood with a friend, which led to an invitation to speak at a faithbased luncheon in January 2020. I began writing my speech weeks in advance so I would be prepared to share real accounts of my childhood for the first time in a public arena. True accounts of living with physical, mental, and yes, sexual child abuse that lasted close to a decade. As I wrote the speech, some parts were 58

difficult to read back as I relived each memory.

But it wasn't the moments I suffered through that caused a quiver in my chin. It was writing about what my younger siblings had suffered through that caused many emotions to resurface. I was determined to deliver my words with conviction because there are so many who are living an abusive childhood, more so than ever. We billed it as a Teddy Bear Luncheon and asked each guest to bring a bear to donate to the MSO to give to children when making difficult calls.

Days leading up to giving the speech, I had prayed so hard to be given the strength to get through the words and keep my emotions in check. The day was here, and it was time! As I drove to the ballroom, my thoughts traveled down many directions. Then a real sense of calmness came over me, and the fear began to subside as I walked up to the podium and delivered my story that brought tears of sadness, anger, and joy to many who were there. The feedback I received was tremendous and gave me the feeling that this is what I should be doing.

People I would see in the days and weeks afterward began to encourage me to write the book. So, with one short story after

another, turning them into chapters, designing the cover after many months of work, then putting my hands in the air in saying, ok, it's written, I am done!

It was hard, but the pressure of it being released held a different level of anxiety. I was terrified about the reaction I would receive from my family, my siblings, and my circle of friends, and I was afraid of the feedback I would get from the readers and if it was a book worth reading. Then I began to visualize how my story might help people I don't know.

Someone I may never meet who has suffered from the atrocities of child abuse will read it and see how strength became the very essence of my soul and how I was able to rise above a life they might have lived. Perhaps as they travel down my journey, they could find the same sense of peace I was able to find through faith and a foster home.

What I didn't expect was how many people would share their personal stories of abuse with me. An abusive mother, father and from an alcoholic husband. The appreciation they expressed of my being willing to write about this dark part of my life, but how I am able to talk about it publicly. Then it became clear to me, the path God has been leading me down is still being drawn.

I've been asked by others who are advocates of children and mental health how I could rise above such a tragic past and how hard it was for me to write. I have never spoken about much to members of my own family and never shared with the very siblings I write about. They were all going to read about things they had no knowledge of.

How was I able to write it? The answer is as true today as it was decades ago. I refused to let it take me down a path of sadness.

Yes, of course, there were times when I had to take a break in between chapters. The biggest thing I came away with was, I wish I had reached out to someone earlier than I did. I should have written the book a long time ago too. I don't know how many lives it could have had an impact on.

My history will never change, but the path I am on now is to share my story of what I have kept to myself. A path God had for me long before I ever knew it, and all I can do is to keep going down it. To use my voice to bring much-needed awareness to others who have never experienced this kind of abuse. The memories never go away, but forgiveness will last forever. That is what I chose to do, and I hope by writing this book, others can find real peace and strength to truly forgive.

The respect and appreciation I have for those who become foster parents or adopt a child placed in their custody are tremendous.

The impact a child welfare caseworker had on me and the lifechanging moments a foster mother gave me I never knew was possible. A stranger who welcomed this poor broken teenager into her home introduced me to a strong faith-based lifestyle, all things I knew nothing about. People like that can change the life of a child at any age.

My foster mother has long passed, but I did send a copy of my book to the last known address I had for my welfare caseworker.

A few weeks later, I received a note from her! She can remember some of the details from the many meetings we had so many years ago.

I spoke to a foster parent group, giving them the perspective of a real-life story told by a survivor of abuse. There were many questions, but the message I wanted to leave them with was that they impact the kids they are helping. It does not go unnoticed, and you never know; out of the blue, you might get a letter of gratitude from a child they fostered.

To the people on the front lines, a teacher, a caseworker, and a volunteer who sometimes makes the hard decisions of getting involved, listen to what children are saying with their eyes. They are more afraid of the reaction from a family member than from those who are willing to step in and help them. Although I was afraid, I gave many signs. No one took notice; no one listened; hear me now!

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2nd Annual

CORNHOLE & COCKTAILS PICTURES: Whitney Patton

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What Would Barbara Say ?

THE AMAZING STORY OF ONE WOMAN’S DEDICATION TO HELPING FAMILIES… WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock

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hen a dusting of stars illuminated the night sky, and most of Manatee County slipped into a peaceful slumber, a predictable rumble hummed from Robby’s driveway. Turning the ignition of his mother’s borrowed car, Robby rolled out each evening to work overnights at a fast-food restaurant and prove a commitment to carving out a successful life.

Stoic work ethic and drive powered Robby, despite vast adversities that cratered potholes and detours in his roadmap of life. He pushed on. He navigated his obstacles, despite not even owning a car.

Then a life-changing knock tapped on his front door. Social workers delivered the shocking news: Robby had a threeyear-old son, Jaxson, who suffered and witnessed horrific physical abuse at the hands of his step-father and found refuge in foster care. Desperately longing to provide a nurturing and safe home but struggling with limited resources to chart a course of healing and development for Jaxson, Robby tossed out a life raft.

It landed in the loving hands of Barbara Brownell – a trailblazer in the field of parenting education who has dedicated her life to making resources available to

all families and spotlighting the need for prevention services in our community.

“This dad could do it,” said Brownell with passion rising up in her voice. “We knew right away he could. We pulled in all the resources and would not take no for an answer. He wouldn’t give up. How could we?”

Brownell, a founding member of Parenting Matters – an organization striving to prevent child abuse in at-risk families through comprehensive parenting education and support - dedicated 20 years to the organization and impacted more than 16,000 families before retiring as program director in 2018.

A Manatee County icon and recent recipient of the Charles Clapsaddle Community Spotlight Award, Brownell forged a career as an Elementar y school counselor before realizing the lack of child abuse prevention programs focused on parenting in Manatee County.

With robust energy, she developed and authored programs, curricula, and trainings implemented locally by Parenting Matters, State College of Florida, Forty Carrots Family Center, Manatee County School District, and Gulf Coast Community Foundation, to name a few.

“Barbara is a brilliant counselor, parenting educator, and leader,” said Diane Weiss, Practice Manager and parenting, child development, and pediatric sleep specialist at Weiss Pediatric Care. She also happens to be Brownell’s long-time friend and colleague in the world of parenting education. “She has the ability to see the strengths in all those she touches – children, parents, colleagues, and of course friends and families – and helps each one go away with an increased sense of worth and competence. She adds humor at all the right moments to hold people up and lighten their burdens – or to just make us all laugh.”

An avid hiker and kayaker, Brownell’s tall, elegant presence demands attention.

Donning bright pink lipstick, a turquoise tunic and dangling earrings, Brownell’s words roll out with articulate, deliberate speed, hinting at her magical ability to motivate and inspire those around her, especially struggling parents. The evidence lies in the oversized poster titled “What Would Barbara Say?” proudly hanging in the Parenting Matters offices and offering a snapshot of Brownell’s goto phrases such as “Let’s Rewind,” “You can’t fill a glass with an empty pitcher,” and “How’s that working for you?”

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leaving a family a little better off when she knows a bit more effort by our team and the community will permanently impact a family and future generations.”

Providing parenting education and serving parents of children ages 0-17, Parenting Matters rises as one of 67 accredited child abuse prevention centers nationally and is one of three in Florida.

Consistently earning the highest level of accreditation, the organization offers classes in both English and Spanish, including an in-home Parent Partner program. Counselors work with an arsenal of other local organizations to ensure their families have access to vital resources such as food, mental health, counseling, and housing.

Growing up in the brutal winters of Chicago, Brownell sought out Eckerd College in sunny St. Petersburg, where she fell in love with sandy beaches, skyskimming palm trees, and her husband, Scott. After achieving her master’s in guidance and counseling from Wake Forest University, the couple agreed to move wherever either one of them scored a job first.

Leaping out in navy blue font is perhaps Brownell’s strongest mantra, “We never work harder than our families.”

“In my experience, 99.9 percent of parents love their children and want to be better at their job,” said Brownell, who raised two daughters along with her husband, Scott. “Parents are committed, motivated learners. That’s not to say they all appear to be motivated learners at first.

They may not have good roadmaps. We can’t blame someone for being a bad parent if they themselves are wounded with bad roadmaps.”

Brownell stresses the importance of partnering with parents and refraining from critical judgment in order to reach the family unit as a whole.

“We are experts on children in general, but the parent is the expert on their own 64

kid,” said Brownell, who wrote a parenting advice column in the Bradenton Herald for several years and freely admitted that parenting is the hardest job. “If there was one right way to parent, there would only be one book out there.”

Echoing this philosophy, Katrina Bellemare, Executive Director of Parenting Matters, shares Brownell consistently pushes for the best practices in human services.

“For her, services must be based on relationships, respect, building on strengths (rather than pointing out weaknesses) and showing people their worth and ability to create change,” Bellemare said. “I often hear her advocate with other agencies to go beyond keeping children safe. She wants to make sure that every child is also secure and strong, able to thrive in life. She is never satisfied with

Manatee County sought out Barbara during a time in the early 70s when parenting resources and counseling in the school system barely claimed a presence. She took on the position as Oneco Elementary’s very first guidance counselor and moved on to develop the first parent resource program in Manatee County at State College of Florida in 1978.

“I love this community,” said Brownell, leaning forward to express conviction.

“I love Manatee County because it is small enough with businesses and residents that truly care about families.

We have a community that voted on a tax referendum to help our families. I’m so proud of this community.”

Brownell co - chaired the Manatee Community Council for Children’s Task Force on Funding in 1990-1992, resulting in the tax referendum for Manatee County’s Children’s Services Advisory Board, which now provides approximately $13m annually and supports programs that benefit tens of thousands of children.

When Brownell is not plotting her next hike to Glacier National Park, you may find her gardening in the backyard where

blooms of tulips and a myriad of butterfly trees and plants shade her sanctuary.

She cherishes long lunches catching up with friends. Rolling eagerly off the computer screen, wise words from her Parenting Matters blog instantly draw in any reader. When the long shadows of afternoon stretch across her home, Brownell practices yoga and meditates – a discipline she inherited from her mother, who taught yoga and practiced until two weeks before she passed away at age 98.

“I come from a family of helpers,” said Brownell, who recalled a memory of creating to-do lists on the fridge for her eager-to-help-out father when her kids were little. “I have great roadmaps. I didn’t have to struggle out of bad things. Our family is a team, and we work together as a team.”

five-year-old granddaughter gain math facts by counting change in her wallet. “I appreciate what teachers do now more than ever. I don’t know how their teachers were always so fun, upbeat, and positive during e-learning. There could be chaos going on with technology not working, yet they would still say in a friendly voice, ‘Friends, someone’s not muted. Can we mute now.’ I was so impressed with parents and teachers and the kids.”

parenting education for the father and son.

While e-learning left Brownell in awe of her collective community, she may not realize how many individuals she has inspired throughout her career. Weiss recalls meeting Brownell in the 1980s when an instant friendship bloomed as the two pushed each other to grow in the field of parenting education.

Focused and determined, Brownell knocked on the do or of Manatee Community Foundation, where Executive Director Susie Bowie dove in and connected Brownell with three local philanthropists ready to help. They not only paid for the car and insurance but also shopped several dealerships to locate one just right for Robby.

Perhaps Brownell’s teamwork philosophy inspired her to swoop in and help when her family needed her the most: e-learning through the pandemic. Four days a week, she, along with Scott, navigated the wild west of remote learning with her grandkids. While her husband tackled third grade, she took on Kindergarten, mixing in raising monarchs in the backyard with four hours of screen-time learning.

“We wrote parenting education curriculum together, did training through Sarasota and Manatee counties, and presented our work at national conferences,” said Weiss. “Whenever I was confronted with a professional dilemma, whether it was about a specific family or issue or a social or political concern, it was Barbara who I would turn to. That has never changed.

She will always be on my auto-dial list as a dear friend and an admired colleague.”

“This was the hardest thing I have done, and I put a lot of pressure on myself,” said Brownell, who creatively had her

While Brownell has counseled many families, Robby and Jaxson tugged at her heart, and she advocated far beyond

Parenting Matters helped secure furniture, clothing, services, and toys; however, Brownell knew Robby desperately need reliable transportation.

“This is not something we have ever done at Parenting Matters,” Bellemare said.

“But Barbara just knew that would be the thing they needed to improve their circumstances.”

“Barbara has said time and time again, ‘We will not give up on this family; we can’t – this child is going to make it,’” said Bellemare.

On a recent office visit, Robby, who now works a higher-paying day job, said to Barbara, “I could never thank you enough for all of the work you have done for us.”

Barbara quickly replied, “We never work harder than our families. You are doing so much more.”

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Sunday

Monday

AUGUST

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

15

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Bradenton Macaroni Kid is one of the area's top resources for all things family-friendly! With a comprehensive listing of holiday events, play groups, classes, festivals, summer programs, shows and much more, Bradenton Macaroni Kid makes it easy for parents to keep their children busy and entertained all year long. Don't miss the exciting giveaways, promotions, timely bits of parenting advice and humor! Like us on Facebook and sign up to receive the FREE weekly e-newsletter with the latest scoop on fun outings and events in Manatee County at www.bradenton.macaronikid.com.

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

16

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

17

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Marauders Game Lecom Park 1:05pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

18

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

19

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

13

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm

Saturday

14

Ellenton Ice Complex FREE Ice Skating Class 10:45am-11:15am Live Training Center Palmetto Live Littles 3:30pm-4:30pm Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

20

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

Music Compound Back to School Bash 10:00am-2:00pm

21

Ellenton Ice Complex FREE Ice Skating Class 10:45am-11:15am Live Training Center Palmetto Live Littles 3:30pm-4:30pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Friday

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

22

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

23

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

24

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

St. Armands Circle Family Day 11:00am-1:00pm

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

25

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

26

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

27

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm

Nathan Benderson Park NBP Rec Days 10:00am-12:00pm

28

Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm Florida Railroad Museum Summer Nights 7:30pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 1:05pm SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

29

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

30

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Rhea Lanas Manatee Bradenton Convention Ctr. FREE Admission 10:00am-7:00pm

Rhea Lanas Manatee Bradenton Convention Ctr. FREE Admission 9:00am-12:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

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Rhea Lanas Manatee HALF OFF SALE Bradenton Convention Ctr. FREE Admission 9:00am-8:00pm Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

Out & About:

NEXTGEN encourages the use of face coverings and social distancing when out in public. Due to COVID-19 all events are subject to change or cancellation without warning. Please check with the venue prior to making any plans.

Sunday

Monday

SEPTEMBER Tuesday

Wednesday

1

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Rhea Lanas Manatee HALF OFF SALE Bradenton Convention Ctr. FREE Admission 9:00am-12:00pm Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Thursday

2

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

3

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm Village of the Arts ArtWalk 6:00pm-9:30pm

Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

5

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

6

7

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Marauders Game Lecom Park 1:05pm

SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

12

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

13

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Bishop Museum Science Sprouts 10:30am-11:30am

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm (Fan Appreciation Night)

8

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

9

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Nathan Benderson Park NBP Rec Days 10:00am-12:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

10

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm

Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

15

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

11

Live Training Center Palmetto Live Littles 3:30pm-4:30pm

Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

16

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Ellenton Ice Complex FREE Ice Skating Class 10:45am-11:15am

Bishop Museum IQuest 4:00pm-8:00pm

St Armands Circle Breathe (Yoga) 6:00pm

14

Ken Thompson Park Team Explorer Kids Fishing Tournament 8:00am-12:00pm

Village of the Arts ArtWalk 11:00am-4:00pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

St Armands Circle Songs on the Circle 6:00pm-9:00pm

4

License Free Saltwater Fishing Day

Nathan Benderson Park NBP Rec Days 10:00am-12:00pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

Saturday

DeSoto National Memorial Escape Uzita 9:00am-5:00pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

Marauders Game Lecom Park 6:05pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Friday

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

17

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm

Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

18

JD Hamel Park Flip Flop Walk for Autism Awareness 8:00am Nathan Benderson Park NBP Rec Days 10:00am-12:00pm St Armands Circle Sarasota Arts LIVE 10:00am Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

19

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

SkyZone Sarasota Little Leapers 9:00am-11:00am

26

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am St. Armands Circle Family Day 11:00am-1:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

20

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

21

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am

Ringling Museum FREE Admission 10:00am-5:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

27

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

22

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

28

Nathan Benderson Park NBP Rec Days 10:00am-12:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

23

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 11:00am-12:00pm

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

24

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Glow Night 6:00pm

Ellenton Ice Complex FREE Ice Skating Class 10:45am-11:15am

25

Live Training Center Palmetto Live Littles 3:30pm-4:30pm Bounce Down Under Parents Night Out 6:00pm-10:00pm LWR Gymnastics Open Gym 6:30pm-8:30pm

29

Defy Bradenton KidsJump 9:00am-10:00am

30

Jumpin Fun Inflata Park Toddler Time 9:00am-11:00am Sun N’ Fun Sarasota Dive In Movie 7:30pm

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The F ro

tion nda

m

dle to College ™Fo Cra u

2011

2021

An sic nual s a l Golf C

The From Cradle to College™ Foundation Golf Classic Hosted by State Senator Jim Boyd and State Representative Will Robinson, benefiting the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County December 10, 2021 IMG Academy Golf Club Anniversary Sponsor $10,000

Lunch Sponsor $2500 (one available)

• 1 foursome in tournament • 3 foursomes in tournament • 2 page spread in NEXTGEN Family Magazine • 1 company banner • 1 hole sponsorship ($2400 value) • 2 company banners Birdie Sponsor $2000 • 3 hole sponsorships • 1 foursome in tournament • 1 company banner Title Sponsor $6000 • 1 hole sponsorship • 2 foursomes in tournament • Full page advertisement in NEXTGEN Beverage Sponsor $500 Family Magazine ($1200 value) • Recognition on Tournament Signage • 2 company banners • 2 hole sponsorships Male Closest to Pin $200 (Two Available) Eagle Sponsor $3000 • Recognition on course • 2 foursomes in tournament Female Closest to Pin $200 • Half page advertisement in NEXTGEN (Two Available) Family Magazine ($800 value) • Recognition on course • 1 company banner • 2 hole sponsorships

Male Longest Drive $200 • Recognition on course

Female Longest Drive $200 • Recognition on course

Non-Exclusive Hole Sponsor $100 • Recognition on course

11:00am Registration & Lunch 12:00pm Shotgun Scramble Format $150 per Golfer $600 per Foursome

Register online at: www.elc-manatee.org/golf

All proceeds to benefit the ELC of Manatee County. For more information call (941) 212-4988 today!

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com Registration #CH50912

Join us on National First Responders Day, October 28th 2021, in honor of our HEROES at the 2021 Manatee Leadership Prayer Breakfast hosted by Paul Sharff, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. Help us maintain the tradition of assembling together to build relationships and pray for our community, our state and our nation in support of our youngest citizens!

This event will benefit the From Cradle to College™ Foundation that exists to support the 6,500 children served every year by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. Sponsorship opportunities are available! Register online today or call (941) 212-4988 for more information.

In The Frame For Family Memories…

S

tarting a new school year can be an exciting time for both parents and kids. Whether entering PreK, middle school, or even high school, these are big milestones in a child's life.

Like most parents, I snapped a bunch of pictures at the start of the 2021-2022 school year and will be ordering school photos as the year goes on. Of course, I will post them online for family and friends to enjoy. However, we will also add them to frames in our home. I love the opportunity to display these snapshots as they grow up.

Recently, my husband, kids, and I looked back at their collection of school photos. It was neat to see their changes throughout the years. They started with baby faces, then were missing teeth, they then tried new hairstyles, and one of them even transitioned to wearing braces.

Of course, these pictures are not only restricted to being enjoyed on a wall or posted online. Another fun way to display them is with magnets on a fridge, dishwasher, or file cabinet. You can preserve the photos by putting together a simple frame craft with your child.

What you will need to recreate the Photo Frame is the following: • Magnets • 15 Small craft sticks AKA popsicle sticks • Ruler • Foam sheet Optional: • Glue • Acrylic paint • Scissors • Paint brush • Pencil • Marker Tip: You can find most of the supplies at a dollar store or craft store.

DIRECTIONS:

To get started, first glue your craft sticks together into a square shape. Do so by lining up 11 craft sticks in a row then gluing down two sticks, one on each end. Next, take two more sticks to form a triangle shape. Attach the triangle by gluing the sides to the top and gluing the center of the triangle.

Then, set the schoolhouse shape aside and allow the glue to dry for around 15 minutes.

Tip: Be sure to put down paper towels to protect surfaces and have your child wear either an oversized T-shirt or apron to protect their clothing.

My daughter made two examples of this photo frame craft. One was created with multicolor sticks that were pretreated with paint, and another with plain sticks that were then painted with red acrylic paint.

Once the structures are set and all paint and glue have dried, it is time to add foam to the triangle shape at the top. Simply lay the foam underneath and trace the outside with a pencil.

Next up, cut out the shape and write the year in the center.

She first wrote out the year with a pencil and then went over it with a marker. The foam triangle shape was then glued to the top on the back, with four magnets also glued to the back.

To complete the photo craft, my daughter shaped pictures to fit the frame using scissors, a pencil, as well as a ruler and glued the photo to the craft sticks. She also made sure that some of the colors of the craft sticks were showing on the sides.

Once the magnets, foam, and photo are dry, the craft is ready to be displayed. I just love how colorful this turned out; it was such a great way to display pictures of our younger kids from last school year.

I hope your family has a great back to school and has a great time putting this craft together!

WORDS & PICTURES: Carlee Colonneso Carlee Colonneso is a wife, and stay at home mother of three. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and author of funlearninglife. com. Her website is a lifestyle blog that centers on family, crafts, recipes, and frugal living.

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FREE preschool for all four-year-olds residing in FL regardless of family income Call (941) 757-2910 or register online at www.elc-manatee.org Sponsorship by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Registration #CH27655 “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.”

72

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Investing in our youth is not merely our responsibility.

It is our privilege.

It’s never too early — or too late — to plan for the financial future of your family or business.

Jodi D. Allen Vice President, Commercial Banking 941.757.4561 | jodi.allen@bmo.com Mandy Quinones Branch Manager, Retail Banking 941.723.6933 | mandy.quinones@bmo.com

BMO Harris Bank® is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC.

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SarasotaJungleGardens.com 3701 Bay Shore Road • Sarasota, FL 34234 Open 10:00am-3:30pm 7 Days a Week 74

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF (CARD-USF) is a grant-funded program through the Florida Department of Education.

CARD serves persons of all levels of intellectual functioning who have autism spectrum disorder; an autistic-like disability; or a sensory impairment with other disabilities.

CARD services are delivered across the lifespan and wherever families, professionals, schools, agencies or businesses are located.

Services include: CARD USF covers: • Coaching • Charlotte • Hillsborough • Professional Training • Collier • Lee • Safety Promotion • Desoto • Manatee • Community Engagement • Glades • Pasco • The Learning Academy • Hardee • Pinellas • Autism Friendly Business Initiative • Hendry • Polk • Fiesta By the Bay • Highlands • Sarasota • CARD Champions There are seven regional CARD centers in the state of Florida.

Visit http://www.florida-card.org/map.htm for locations and contact information.

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KIDS' SAFETY PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

76

DAY AT UTC!

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Healthy Sleep Habits ...

How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?

numbers reflect total sleep hours in a 24-hour period. So, if your son or daughter still naps, you'll need to take that into account when you add up his or her typical sleep hours.

Do those numbers surprise you?

WORDS: healthychildren.org

F

rom infants and toddlers to school-aged kids and teens, parents want to know how many hours of sleep are recommended. While it's true that sleep needs vary from one person to another, there are some very reasonable, sciencebased guidelines to help you determine whether your child is getting the sleep he or she needs to grow, learn, and play.

Childhood Sleep Guidelines The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) provides some helpful guidelines regarding how much sleep children need at different stages in their development. Keep in mind that these 78

16 12 to 16 hours (including naps)

12

11 to 14 hours (including naps)

10 to 13 hours (including naps)

9 to 12 hours 8 to 10 hours

8

4

0

Infants: 4 - 12 months

Toddlers: 1 to 2 years

Preschoolers: 3 to 5 years

Gradeschoolers: 6 to 12 years

Teens: 13 to 18 years

So, are you sending your child off to bed early enough? If those numbers are surprising to you, you're not alone. Working and single parents, especially, are often forced to get by on 5, 6, or even fewer hours of sleep each night. This is likely impacting your own social and mental functioning, as well as increasing your risk for other health problems.

It might be tempting to think that your children can also get by with less sleep than they need or that they should be able to cope fairly well with a few skipped hours here and there.

However, all children thrive on a regular bedtime routine. Regular sleep deprivation often leads to some pretty difficult behaviors and health problems—irritability, difficulty concentrating, hypertension, obesity, headaches, and depression. Children who get enough sleep have a healthier immune system and better school performance, behavior, memory, and mental health.

Healthy Sleep Habits - Tips from the AAP The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports the AASM guidelines and encourages parents to make sure their children develop good sleep habits right from the start.

• Make sufficient sleep a family priority. Understand the

importance of getting enough sleep and how sleep affects you and your children's overall health. Remember that you are a role model to your child; set a good example. Staying up all night with your teen to edit his or her paper or pulling an all-nighter for work yourself isn't really sending the right message. Making sleep a priority for yourself shows your children that it's part of living a healthy lifestyle—like eating right and exercising regularly.

• Keep to a regular daily routine. The same waking time,

meal times, nap time, and play times will help your child feel secure and comfortable and help with a smooth bedtime. For young children, it helps to start early with a bedtime routine such as brush, book, bed. Make sure the sleep routines you use can be used anywhere, so you can help your child get to sleep wherever you may be.

• Be active during the day. Make sure your kids have

interesting and varied activities during the day, including physical activity and fresh air.

• Monitor screen time. The AAP recommends keeping all

screens—TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, and phones out of children's bedrooms, especially at night. To prevent sleep disruption, turn off all screens at least 60 minutes/1 hour before bedtime. Create a family media use plan and set boundaries about use before bedtime.​

• Realize that teens require more sleep, not less. Sleep-

wake cycles begin to shift up to two hours later at the start of puberty. At the same time, most high schools require students to get to school earlier and earlier. The AAP has been advocating for middle and high schools to delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. or later. It is important that parents and local school boards work together to implement high school start times that allow teens to get the healthy sleep they need.

• Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice, milk, or formula. Water is okay. Anything other than water in the bottle can cause baby bottle tooth decay. Feed or nurse your baby, and then put him or her down to sleep.

• Don't start giving solids before about 6 months of age.

Starting solid food sooner will not help your baby sleep through the night. In fact, if you give your baby solids before their system can digest them, he or she may sleep worse because of a tummy ache.

• Avoid overscheduling. In addition to homework, many

children today have scheduled evening activities (i.e., sports games, lessons, appointments, etc.) that pose challenges to getting a good night's sleep. Take time to wind down and give your children the downtime that they need.

• Learn to recognize sleep problems. The most common

sleep problems in children include difficulty falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, snoring, stalling, and resisting going to bed, sleep apnea, and loud or heavy breathing while sleeping.

• Talk to your child's teacher or child care provider about

your child's alertness during the day. Sleep problems may manifest in the daytime, too. A child with not enough, or poor-quality sleep may have difficulty paying attention or "zoning out" in school. Let your child's teacher know that you want to be made aware of any reports of your child falling asleep in school, as well as any learning or behavior problems.

• Talk to your child's pediatrician about sleep. Discuss your

child's sleep habits and problems with your pediatrician, as most sleep problems are easily treated. He or she may ask you to keep a sleep log or have additional suggestions to improving your child's sleep habits.

• Create a sleep-supportive and safe bedroom and home

environment. Dim the lights prior to bedtime and control the temperature in the home. Don't fill up your child's bed with toys.

Keep your child's bed a place to sleep rather than a place to play. One or two things—a favorite doll or bear, a security blanket—are okay and can help ease separation anxiety.

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Ki ds in th e Ki tch en Photo: tasteofhome.com

Photo: eatingwell.com

RECIPES: Caroline Lehman

Lemon Broccoli Pasta INGREDIENTS • 2 • 8 • 1 • 1 • 1

tablespoons cooking oil oz. whole-wheat rotini pasta clove minced garlic tablespoon lemon zest (10 oz) package frozen broccoli florets, thawed and coarsely chopped 1 • ⁄ ³ cup parmesan cheese • 4 teaspoons lemon juice • 1 ¾ cups water • 1 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable/chicken broth • Desired amount of salt and pepper

PREPARATION

1. Cook pasta according to package.

2. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and stir for about 30 seconds. Add pasta, water, broth, and zest. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat to medium-high, and stir for 10-minutes.

Add broccoli and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan and lemon juice.

3. Place broccoli in pasta, drizzle olive oil, and lemon juice and stir.

4. Top with the desired amount of salt, pepper, and parmesan.

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Quick Icebox Sandwiches INGREDIENTS

• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix • 2 cups cold whole milk • 2 cups whipped topping • 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips • 24 whole graham crackers, halved

PREPARATION

1. Mix pudding and milk according to package directions; refrigerate until set. Fold in whipped topping and chocolate chips.

2. Place 24 graham cracker halves on a baking sheet; top each with about 3 tablespoons filling.

Place another graham cracker half on top. Wrap individually in plastic; freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Serve sandwiches frozen. Remove from oven and sprinkle with basil.

Check In On Yourself WORDS: Women’s Resource Center

I

f the pandemic forced you to explore an entirely new side of yourself, you are not alone. So many of us have experienced monumental shifts in our personal and professional lives this past year. From financial hardship to total isolation from friends and family, an array of new challenges put our coping skills to the test.

We have seen an increase in the use of terms such as "self-care" or "mindfulness," but why does it still feel like taking care of your mental health is an option?

Roughly one in five American adults has a mental illness, equaling over 52 million nationally. So why does speaking about mental health still feel so taboo?

Interestingly, we have seen an inspiring trend among the younger generations.

There is a new focus on the importance of being vulnerable, exchanging stories, s h a r ing o p e nl y, a nd c o n sid e r ing mental and physical health to have the same significance.

Recently, after a few weeks of what I later realized was anxiety, I reached out to a friend for support and advice. She said very clearly, "if you cut your arm and it was bleeding would you go to the doctor? Why should this be any different?"

Discussing my mental health as a child, whether at home or school, was not a commonplace. Instead, our education on the subject was mainly through sitcom plots that depicted depression, eating disorders, and often suicide but never portrayed the average person managing their mental health.

Around 2010, the movement of self-care and living authentically took over social

media for millennials. As a result, it was no longer taboo to discuss mental illness, but we celebrated speaking authentically.

However, simply sharing details of your depressed state at the dinner table still provoked a change of subject. We realized this is a massive cultural shift for many, and the stigma that our society created around mental health will take time to break down.

At this point, we must know that mental illness shows no bias and doesn't affect one type of person. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, the average delay between symptom onset and treatment is 11 years.

Honestly, as a millennial, it hadn't occurred to me that discussing mental health may be uncomfortable for some.

Most of my friends speak candidly about their struggles and triumphs with their mental health, many of them seeing a therapist regularly.

The question remains, why do younger generations feel more comfortable talking about their mental health and accessing care?

In a report released by the American Psychiatric Association entitled "Stress in America: Generation Z" in October 2019, Gen Z were more likely to have received treatment or gone to therapy (37%) compared to Millennials (35%), Gen X'ers (26%), Baby Boomers (22%), and the Silent Generation (15%).

When I spoke with a Baby Boomer about mental health, she gave great insight into how mental health was addressed as she was growing up: "It just wasn't something we talked about. Admitting that you

needed help with your emotions was seen as weak, and weakness was considered shameful. You dealt with your issues and struggles at home. When I was growing up, you never heard about anxiety. I was told to get over it and move on."

Here's the thing, to end mental health stigmas on a societal level, we must look to ourselves. The more stories we share, the more we can help normalize conversations about mental health, the more we empower and support our community to share their mental health practices and struggles.

No matter where you are on your mental health journey, you can help support others by sharing your experiences and celebrating others who show vulnerability.

We are lucky enough to live in a region where ser vices and resources are available to help support the wellbeing of those in our community.

So let's change the narrative on mental health. Taking care of yourself includes taking an active interest in your mental health.

A new school year brings a lot of things to the surface, excitement, planning, and sometimes anxiety. This is a good time to be in tune with your child and yourself.

If you find you need mental health services or if you're curious about where to start on your mental health journey, the Women's Resource Center offers a free intake session with a Mental Health professional.

This virtual meeting is complimentary and will help you assess where you are and what would be the best step for you. It's never too late to check in on yourself!

Visit www.mywrc.org or call 941-747-6707 for more information.

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On The Bookshelf REVIEWS: Kelly McLean

First Book of Nursery Rhymes (Birth to 3) • By Ailie Busby "PAT- A – CAKE" by Ailie Busby is a great story to add to your toddler's collection! Sing and move along to your favorite nursery rhyme classics with your little one. This book includes vibrant and diverse pictures to encourage your child to follow along with you as you read each short nursery rhyme. Movement activities are also included to keep those little bodies active and engaged with every nursery song! This board book has thick pages that allow for easy page turning for the littlest hands and durability to support multiple uses!

(4-6) • By Melanie Joyce Drip, drop. Drip, drop, drop. Florida's rainy season is here, and there's no better way to spend your time inside than by sharing a wonderful story together! It's also the perfect time to talk about the water cycle and what is actually happening outside when it rains. "Little Raindrop" by Melanie Joyce is the perfect coupling to teach the water cycle to children with a simple yet exceptionally creative storyline. The vibrant illustrations coupled with adorable facial expressions really make this story come to life! An adorable little raindrop takes you on a full-circle journey from cloud to land and back again, all while introducing the scientific concepts of precipitation, collection, condensation, and evaporation in a kid-friendly way!

Hurricanes!

(7-9) • By Lorraine Jean Hopping Hurricane season is here! It's time to get swept into a great book and learn all about the wonders, history, and the incredible science behind powerful hurricanes. The book starts by having the reader imagine they are a pilot, more specifically, a hurricane hunter, on a mission to fly to the center of the storm! The descriptive text allows readers to dive deep into the history of storm trackers and the hurricanes that made a lasting impact on our world and how we have learned from these encounters and developed safety protocols. Detailed illustrations are included to help early readers visualize the concepts included in the text and immerse them in the science and beauty of these storms. Science is magnificent, and "Hurricanes!" is perfect for getting your learner informed about the season.

The first 50 people to come into the lobby of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, 600 8th Avenue West, Suite 100, Palmetto can pick up free copies of the books reviewed.

NOT Giving Up. NOT GIVING IN. WORDS: Bronwyn Beightol, Chief Impact Officer-Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto

I believe that you see something that you want to get done, you cannot give up, and you cannot give in.

— Representative John Lewis, Civil Rights Leader

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powerful statement and a call to action and perseverance as we lead and act intentionally on behalf of our children, our future.

As our current climate underscores, we continue to bear witness to inequities, biases, and systemic barriers that impede outcomes for many of our community members, especially our children.

For this movement, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, to succeed beyond our lifetimes, every single one of us will need to banish our ego and long-held traditions and assumptions to ensure a perfect union for our children’s future.

Although it is not a new concept to invest in early education and grade-level 84

reading success, the questions and intentions are no longer “Should I invest?” but “How do I invest in the best/most promising work?” What will ensure gains, and how do I effectively come alongside our families, neighbors, early learning centers, schools, and the community?

And the all-important question: How do I know my investment changes the future now and for generations?

It is this question that we have been addressing in Manatee County from the beginning. We continue to invest time, energy, thought leadership, and ourselves in a systems-level approach to generational success — ensuring partnerships that thrive well beyond any immediate initiatives or programs and lay

a foundation for our future. And we are NOT giving up. NOT giving in.

Last year, our community came together to create The Big Plan, Community United for our Children’s Future. Focused on ten schools and their attendance zones with the highest concentration of school children and families in Manatee County.

In the 2017–18 school year, 75% of the 3rd graders in these schools did not test as reading on grade level. That’s 742 students. Although in the following year, school grades improved, as did some grade-level reading achievements (and we all celebrate that!), they still showed us that we had a long way to go.

In 2020, we found ourselves amid a pandemic. Although we know progress

was being made, we do not have access to “feel good” data. The data points that might indicate that we are in the right direction do not take into account “surprises.” However, they show us this one moment in time, not yet reflective of the years of work that it takes to undo patterns and build institutional and community trust.

What I can say is that “we are arriving!”

Every year, we deepen and strengthen how we work together. Leadership from five community-spanning organizations requires sacrifice, institutional change, and a turned outward approach. It is transformational.

Trust allowed us to quickly pivot and come together to support one another and our community—ensuring telehealth services, mortgage, and rental assistance, digital access, food, and so much more.

Without credit-seeking or hesitation, we teamed up and served together to ensure that we do not risk losing a generation of children.

I think it is important to share several key milestones in how each of us engages in this movement: Manatee County Government: Included SCGLR in their Children’s Services Strategic Plan.

Ensured alignment of resources by developing GIS map.

Invested in Efforts to Outcomes for the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, which allows us to track the success of quality early care through prekindergarten.

Turned Outward with their approach to Library Services to ensure local access.

Aligned with RECAP (Racially and Ethnically Centralized Areas of Poverty), which ensures additional resources in the attendance zones of Samoset and Palm View, our pilot schools.

Invested in Summer Learning at Samoset Elementary.

Manatee Community Foundation: • Worked with M anatee C ount y Government to ensure that Manatee County Government, United Way Suncoast, Manatee Community Foundation team, and the majority of our community nonprofits were all trained on the Results First to program development and grantmaking.

• Invested in joint donor and community education.

• Worked with community advocates to create funds that aligned with donor and community intention: Soar in 4, Dive Into Reading, other Grade-Level Reading investments, to name only a few…

• Invested in Reach Out and Read.

School District of Manatee County: • From the beginning, they invested in internal leadership, with the freedom to work externally to develop SCGLR strategies and partnerships.

• Worked with the community to ensure alignment of volunteer efforts.

• Turned Outward with Community Conversations and developed the award-winning Soar in 4.

• Invested in a Community School at Manatee Elementary.

• Ensured that the strategic plan included SGLR and The Big Plan.

• Telehealth is now available to students thanks to a partnership with MCR Health.

• With an eye on inclusion, they have ensured that communications are in both Spanish and English.

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County: • First in State to ensure Unique Identifier Number (UIN) for our children in early learning.

• Utilizes Efforts to Outcomes to help us understand the early learning story of our children.

• Par tnership with the S D M C is enviable as they plan and co-create.

• Nemours Reading BrightStar t! curriculum efforts in SDMC PreK. • As a result of our Town Hall meetings last year, they developed Operation Whatever It Takes.

United Way Suncoast: • Realigned our strategic community investments to focus on our Central Corridor and children and families who need us the most. We are grateful for our Strategic Community Par tners, their leadership and expertise.

• Developed several United Way-led initiatives (always with partners!) like Reading Rooms (early learning opportunities where families live); Neighborhood Books (mini-libraries at barbershops and other local places, led by community members); United4Literacy Kits (filled with educational materials and available to support GLR learning) • Increased our Community Impact Commit tee to ensure an even

stronger community voice and a more inclusive lens on investments.

• Developed and lead The Big Plan initiative.

The Patterson Foundation: • Leaders from the beginning and who had the foresight to bring four counties together in this effort so that we reach children and families who live, work, play, and learn in this footprint.

• Their leadership in community-wide awareness and engagement efforts could not be replicated by any one of us.

• Investment in a data person to ensure that we track and measure progress without placing an additional burden on our District.

A l l t h a t s a i d, w e h ave e n g ag e d neighborhood leadership, Manatee Cha mber of C o mmerce, M anatee Education Foundation, Anna Maria Oyster Bar, nonprofit Strategic Community Partners, among so many others.

Since we recognize the power of education to create a more equitable future for our children, how will we shore up our foundation?

Where do we go from here?

Let me remind you of our target: Increase by half the number of children reading on grade level by the time they leave third grade in ten schools of focus by 2026.

Our two pilot schools are Samoset Elementary and Palm View Elementary.

We will add in three more in the new year.

We will continue to ensure a firm foundation for generational success by: • Creating tighter in and out of school connections.

• Developing learning communities.

• Investing in community spaces.

What can you do?

• Give.

• Volunteer.

• Advocate.

• Lead.

And our mantra is: “We see something that we want to get done. We will not give up. We will not give in.”

Join the movement.

Onward!

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LET’S HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR! WORDS: Superintendent Cynthia Saunders

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s Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, I want our parents, families, and employees to know I am approaching the new school year with a sense of calm and confidence. I hope you are too.

Although circumstances related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic aren’t what we would like them to be, or what we were expecting – working together, we will do everything possible to make sure our schools stay open, and our children keep learning.

Why am I calm and confident?

We’ve got a track record.

Each of the last two school years, we’ve encountered incredible hurdles and obstacles, all of them unforeseen. Yet we have endured.

Thanks to the hard work of our teachers and students, and the flexibility and commitment of our parents, district support employees, and community partners, we finished each of the last two school years on time and were able to hold in-person graduation ceremonies for all of our high schools.

Our goal is to do the same this school year. Our children deserve it, and our community needs it.

Just as we have the last two school years, we will continually emphasize health and safety. We will pay close attention to the guidance of the CDC, the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, the Florida Department of Education, and state leadership.

We will keep open lines of communication with our parents and community, and if adjustments need to be made in our protocols and procedures, we will consult with our school board and make them.

So, I hope you will join me in feeling confident about the new school year. I want our children to be excited about returning to school, and I want them to look forward to another year of growth and advancement academically and socially.

One area of emphasis we will have as a school district this year is the wide array of academic options and opportunities available to our students. We refer to these options and opportunities as “Education with Innovation and Imagination.”

Some of those innovative options include having one of the very first Woz-Ed Career Pathway schools in the nation at Palm View K-8. Created by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Woz-Ed provides elementary school students with training in areas like coding, drones, and cybersecurity. The state legislature was so impressed with the Woz-Ed program at Palm View; they awarded our school district $950,000 this year to spread elements of Woz-Ed to other elementary schools in Manatee County.

Other examples of imaginative options include dual-language programs, a Community Partnership School, AICE and IB continuums, career academies, and of course, nationally renowned Manatee Technical College.

To learn more about “Education with Innovation and Imagination,” visit our

district’s official “Good News” page at manateeschools.net/GoodNews. This is your go-to place to find interesting stories, photos, and videos that highlight the accolades and accomplishments of our students and employees. Plus, you will find accurate information about district programs and initiatives.

F i na l l y, I wa nt to e m p ha s ize t h e importance of the one-mill property tax referendum vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. This is not a tax increase; it’s a renewal of a referendum passed by Manatee County voters in 2018.

Dollars from the referendum help our school district stay competitive with neighboring counties like Sarasota and Pinellas, which receive similar millage funding. In fact, Sarasota County voters have passed the additional millage five times since 2002.

Since 2018, referendum dollars in Manatee County have extended learning time for students by 30 minutes each school day, which adds up to an additional year of instructional time from kindergarten through graduation. Its increased teacher pay to help us attract and retain highquality teachers, expanded and enhanced career, technical and STEM programs, and added support to local charter schools. Renewal of the referendum will also provide additional funding for school district arts programs.

We have our challenges. It won’t be easy. But, working together, we will get the job done.

Let’s have a GREAT school year!

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OF MANATEE

2021

STUFF THE BUS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17 9 AM-3 PM All 18 Manatee County Publix Locations Presented by

®

The global pandemic has caused food-insecurity in our community to skyrocket. The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, has been the leading, local source of nutrition in Manatee County since 1985. As the only food bank based in Manatee County, we need your help to Stuff the Bus this year! 100% of the proceeds and food collected will stay in Manatee County.

GOAL:

RAISE

150,000 LBS

OF FOOD TO FEED MANATEE COUNTY RESIDENTS!

m a e T m a e r D The

nnet y Vansant, Be alvary, Henle olina.

C e Ac s, es muel C rison Burg ot pictured: Sa s Turasz, Har ampbell, Luca riel Clas, Gavin Petricca. N C z ha C s, er ht) Daniel Rog es Antista, Ad with (left to rig ordona, Wyatt Wittman, W Coach Leduc Alejandro C

WORDS: Kara Chalmers PICTURES: Whitney Patton

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Amoah,

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mentioned the team's collective speed.

"Their running and their speed reacting to the game was at times shocking."

Still, from the beginning, Leduc had a feeling this team would be special.

"They're gritty," he said. "They don't give up. There is not an ounce of 'give-up' in any of them."

ick Leduc and a dozen boys met for the first time in May 2018 at tryouts for the 11 and under team that Leduc would be coaching for the Braden River Soccer Club. They couldn't know then that in two-and-a-half years, they would rank number one in Florida.

"I knew we had something," Leduc said.

"Once we put them on the field, we knew we had something. For me, it was a oncein-a-lifetime team."

For the most part, the boys on Leduc's team played with each other over three seasons by the time this past season ended on Memorial Day weekend, after a tournament in Williamsburg, VA. Three years gave the boys time to get to know each other's strengths and weaknesses and how they each play the game. But that's only part of why this team's been so successful.

"They're very fast," Leduc said, adding that every coach they played against this year

Leduc also said the boys, who in May were either 10 or 11 years old, are exceptionally hard-working.

Also, they're passionate.

"I want to play soccer for my life, as a living," said Adriel Clas, 11, who played for 'Coach Nick' for three years. Adriel wants to play in college and ultimately play professionally.

Prior to his parents signing him up for the soccer club for his eighth birthday in 2018, Adriel played soccer every day at recess. At every P.E. class, he would go "straight to the nets," he said. "What I like about soccer is the way it's played," Adriel said. "It's a ball at your feet and a net, and you have to figure out how to get the ball in the net. It's like a puzzle."

Adriel said soccer is his passion. "I don't know how to explain it," he said, joy apparent on his face. "I just love soccer."

Gavin Petricca, 10, feels the same. The youngest player on the team, Petricca, said he likes to watch and study famous players on YouTube. "I just keep thinking, if I keep dedicating myself, I can be like one of them," he said.

Speed, Grit, and Passion When it comes to the collective talent of Leduc's team, the numbers speak for themselves. This past season, the team had 44 wins, eight losses, and eight ties. They scored more than 200 goals, and they won six of the ten tournaments they attended.

F or five weeks in N ovember and December of 2020, the team ranked first in Florida out of 250 teams of kids ages 11 and under. By the end of this season, the team ended up ranking seventh in the state and in the top 50 in the U.S. "We snuck up on Florida," Leduc said. "We came out of nowhere."

Also, to be part of the team, the boys had to make a nine-month commitment, from September to May, with practices at least twice a week, for two hours each time.

Leduc also noted that usually, an 11 and under team would attend just six or seven tournaments. But because Leduc feared that Florida Youth Soccer was going to shut down due to COVID-19, he wanted to squeeze in as many chances for the boys to play as possible. Luckily, the shutdown never happened.

In addition, tournaments for 11 and under teams are generally held within an hourand-a-half drive, but this year, the team spent several weekends in Miami, where there was stiff competition. Kids this age generally play 50 percent of their games at home, while this year, it was more like 25 percent, Leduc said. "This team was going to be different no matter what," he said.

The end of this season marked the end of Leduc's three-year-stint coaching this team. He's glad to see the boys move up to the next level.

"Soccer is like a Rubik's Cube," Leduc said. "There's more than one way to solve it. Players need another point of view. They are very good and going to be even better."

Still, on a personal level, it's heartbreaking.

"It's almost like losing my 12 best friends," Leduc said.

A Trifecta of Friendships The friendship between Leduc and the boys, Leduc and the boys' parents, and between the boys themselves is also part of why the team is so special.

"It's a trifecta: great coach, great group of parents, great group of boys," said Paula Antista, mom to Wesley, 10. "It's been a wonderful experience."

Over the past three years, Antista has witnessed Wesley, who plays defense, form a tight bond with his teammates.

"These are his best friends," Antista said.

Wesley makes that clear when he was asked what he likes most about playing on the team. "Making good passes and creating chances for my friends to score," he said.

Leduc also noted how tight-knit the boys have become, especially considering that they attend ten different elementary schools.

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"They're inseparable," Leduc said. "I could call one, and there will be six or seven of them together right now. With that closeness comes the desire to work with and for each other."

As for the parents, Leduc describes them as "awesome."

One such parent is Sandy Vansant, mom to Henley, 11. Vansant said Leduc is the perfect coach for boys her son's age. "He's loving, personable, and really nurtures them," Vansant said of Leduc.

"He's also very competitive, which is great. It's been a phenomenal experience with him."

Her son feels the same. "He works us hard," said Henley, the team's goalie.

"He's fun and funny. He focuses on teamwork. It's like family."

According to Chris Campbell, Dad to Chaz, 11, Leduc is more than just a coach to the team. He makes time to attend their birthday parties and other get-togethers off the field.

"The kids have massive respect for him," Campbell said of Leduc, whom he knows

well, since Leduc also coached his older son Caden, now 13, for three years.

"He's awesome," said Chaz of his coach.

"He coaches us perfectly, and he does whatever he can to make us as good as all-stars." According to Chaz, there is no one best player on the team. "We contribute, each and every one of us," Chaz said. "We play as a team."

Also, since the teammates are such good friends and spend time together off the field, it makes playing together more fun, Chaz said. "We trust and know each other," he said.

Chaz prefers playing defense; he said, "because I like to help my team." " I'm really fast," he added. " I can catch up to people, but if I don' t, my teammates have my back." His Dad noted that Chaz loves watching professional soccer on T.V. "He knows all the players," Campbell said. "He's just a fan, through and through."

A Terrific Teacher Leduc, 48, teaches fourth grade at Barbara A. Harvey Elementary in Parrish.

He's been teaching in Manatee County schools for 26 years, and he won Manatee County Educator of the Year in 2016-2017.

As a kid, Leduc played soccer up through high school at Manatee High School. He played on an intramural team at the University of Florida, where he took pre-med courses, planning on becoming a doctor. However, a summer job as a camp counselor at G.T. Bray Park changed all that. He discovered he had a passion for working with kids.

"I love what I do," Leduc said.

Leduc has coached for the nonprofit Braden River Soccer Club for 12 years. He enjoys coaching soccer, he said, because

he gets to constantly present his players with problems and help them solve the problems quickly as a team. He's taught the boys to rely on each other, take responsibility for the team, and he's also taught them how to deal with heartache and losses.

"My goal is to create boys who love the game as I love it," Leduc said. "The game should always, always, always be fun. I want it to be a very positive experience. I want them to know that I love them dearly."

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THE FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY LIFE! D

WORDS: healthychildren.org

id you know that only about one in four children get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day? Participation in all types of physical activity drops dramatically as a child's age and grade in school increase. It's important that physical activity be a regular part of family life.

Here is some information to help you keep your children healthy and active.

The benefits of physical activity Being physically active means moving enough to breathe heavily,

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be short of breath, feel warm, and sweat. Exercise is vital to the health and well-being of children. Physical activity helps build and maintains healthy bones, muscles, and joints, for example.

It can help keep a healthy body mass index and reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease later in life.

It can help children fall asleep quickly and sleep well.

Beyond benefits to the body, physical activity also boosts a child's mental and behavioral health. It increases a child's enthusiasm and optimism and boosts self-esteem, school performance, attention, and behavior. It also reduces anxiety, tension, and

depression. It can also foster teamwork and friendship when it's part of an organized sport. ​11

ways to get started

Parents can play a key role in helping their child become more physically active. Some suggestions: 1. T ​ alk with your child's doctor. Your child's doctor can help your child understand why physical activity is important.

Your child's doctor can also help you and your child identify sports or activities that may be best for your child.

2. Emphasize fun. Help your child find a sport that she enjoys.

The more she enjoys the activity, the more likely she will be to continue it. Get the entire family involved. It is a great way to spend time together.

3. Choose an activity that is developmentally appropriate. For example, a 7- or 8-year-old child is not ready for weight lifting or a 3-mile run, but soccer, bicycle riding, and swimming are all great activities for kids this age.

4. Plan ahead. Make sure your child has a convenient time and place to exercise.

5. Provide a safe environment. Make sure your child's equipment and where they practice or play are safe. Make sure your child's clothing is comfortable and appropriate for the activity.

6. Provide active toys. Young children especially need easy access to balls, jump ropes, and other active toys.

7. Be a role model. Children who regularly see their parents enjoying sports and physical activity are more likely to do so themselves.

8. Play with your children. Help them learn a new sport or another physical activity. Or have fun together by going for a walk, hike, or bike ride.

• Children and adolescents aged​​6 and older need​at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, as well as at least a few days per week of bone- and muscle-strengthening exercises. Children younger than 6 years need 3 hours of activity every day. Get 1 hour or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.

• Avoid sugary drinks. Choose water or milk for healthy hydration.​

Getting the entire family moving Studies have found that lifestyles learned in childhood are much likelier to stay with a person into adulthood. If sports and physical activities are a family priority, they will provide children and parents with a strong foundation for a lifetime of health.

Remember Exercise along with a balanced diet provides the foundation for a healthy, active life. One of the most important things parents can do is encourage healthy habits in their children early in life.

It is not too late to start. Ask your child's doctor about tools for healthy living today.

9. Set limits. Limit screen time, including time spent on TV, videos, computers, and video games​, each day. Use the free time for more physical activities.

10. Make time for exercise. Some children are so overscheduled with homework, music lessons, and other planned activities that they do not have time for exercise.

11. Do not overdo activity. Exercise and physical activity should not hurt. If it becomes painful, your child should slow down or try a less vigorous activity. As with any activity, it is important not to overdo it. If exercise starts to interfere with school or other activities, talk with your child's doctor.​ ​To

lead a healthy, active life, families can strive to reach the following goals: • Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables​each day.

• Create a Family Media Use Plan ​to help balance online and off-line activities.

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96

Ed Dick:

A TRIBUTE W

WORDS: Bre Jones Mulock

hen Ed Dick passed a lone woman shivering in the pouring rain at a bus stop, he didn’t just sigh with sympathy like most people zooming through the giant puddles stretched out before her. He pulled over, invited her into his car, bought her lunch, and dropped her off at her final destination.

Dick refused to turn away from the suffering woman or when thousands of migrant workers lost jobs after a freeze blew icy death across Florida fruit and vegetable crops. He inspired a caravan of volunteers to collect and deliver supplies to the migrant worker camp in Wimauma. He welcomed more than 300 refugees from 10 countries into his home over the years, fostered children, adopted eight kids, and fought systemic racism.

“He was one of the angels on earth if there ever was one,” said Bob Spencer, owner of West Coast Tomato. “He was constantly about helping others. He lived the life and set a great example.”

Edward Keenan Dick, a champion of the underdog, devoted Manatee County humanitarian, and representative of a blended America where you saw no colors died at age 91 in May – leaving a legacy as influential as stoic, glowing lighthouses guiding ships out of the night.

A founding member of the Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, a former member of the Manatee County School Board, and a founding member of the Guardian Angels of Southwest Florida, which provides homes for orphaned or disadvantaged children, Dick and his wife, Joanne, searched for every opportunity to help those in need.

“There is unlikely to be a charity involved with Spirit of Manatee that has not benefited from Ed and Joanne’s generosity,” said Susie Bowie, Executive Director of Manatee Community Foundation. “Together, they were philanthropists, volunteers, activists, and community leaders who worked with countless local nonprofits to support people in this region.”

Manatee and Sarasota counties to sponsor victims of Cambodia’s killing fields. The Dick’s home served as temporary shelter to more than 300 strangers with up to 14 at a time.

“They bravely interceded in these troubled lives even after a cross was burned in their front yard,” said Bowie.

Speaking out against Jim Crow philosophies still widely practiced in Manatee County during the 1970s, Dick battled systemic racism and brought Ray Bellamy of Lincoln Memorial High School in Palmetto to the attention of the University of Miami, where he became the first black Hurricane football player.

Inspiring others around him to take action and lend a hand to the less fortunate, Dick conducted fund drives for Easter Seals, South County Library, DeSoto Boy’s Club, South County Youth Center, Tallevast Community Center, and The Salvation Army, to name a few.

Though never focused on accolades, Dick’s award roll call will leave you breathless: Silver Medallion Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, NAACP Humanitarian Award, United States Catholic Conference Humanitarian Award, South Manatee County Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, Goodwill Industries Distinguished Citizen of Manatee County, Vietnamese Community Award and the Bradenton Herald Community Sweetheart Award.

He even served as Grand Marshall of the Martin Luther King Day Parade for the Palmetto Youth Center, where officials presented Dick with the Edgar Price Humanitarian Award.

And when Dick filled a vacant position on the Manatee County School Board, he returned his salary to the schools.

“While on the School Board, Ed also learned of a young child who needed a hair transplant as a result of his mother pouring boiling water over his head, and Ed paid for the hair transplant,” said Bowie.

A graduate of the University of Miami and partner for 45 years with Dick, Johnson, and Jefferson Insurance Agency, Dick tirelessly worked to resettle more than 700 desperate refugees escaping genocide and abuse in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.

Perhaps what resonates more than Dick’s lifelong journey building up others and paving opportunities for underprivileged residents was his superpower ability to drive everyone around him into action and support his cause.

With the help of 70 churches and thousands of volunteers, Dick and Joanne founded Refugee Inc. and inspired citizens across

“What an incredible loss – when someone so important and influential over good leaves us,” said Bowie.

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99

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The Emergency Care Center at Manatee Memorial Hospital plays a vital role in caring for families.

We treat patients of all ages and respond to life-threatening emergencies including heart attacks and strokes with fast, high-quality care. We have you covered 24/7 with rapid, individualized emergency care.

For more information on emergency services, visit manateememorial.com.

Need a Doctor? Call Referral and Registration at 941-708-8100.

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Physicians are on the medical staff of Manatee Memorial Hospital, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Manatee Memorial Hospital. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 2189005-362376 7/21