NEXTGEN February - March 2023

KNOWLEDGE. INVESTING IN

KNOWLEDGE. INVESTING IN

KNOWLEDGE. INVESTING IN

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PUBLISHER

Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County EDITOR

Katelyn Disbro

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kelly Harbour

DESIGN EDITOR

Mara Stork

STAFF WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Gabrielle Versmessen

PHOTOGRAPHY

Whitney Patton

Wendy Dewhurst

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Carlee Colonneso, Sheri Roca, Colleen Hartnett, Merab-Michal Favorite Christa Hardin, Rachel Spivey

CALENDAR OF FAMILY EVENTS

Bradenton Macaroni Kid: Denise Granata

ADVERTISING SALES

Kelly Stasurak: kstasurak@elc-manatee.org

PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION

PCI Communications, Inc.

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Contents

February - March 2023

EARLY LEARNING COALITION BOARD

OF DIRECTORS

GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEES

Adam Mohammadbhoy (Chairman) Robert Bell (Secretary/Treasurer)

PRIVATE SECTOR APPOINTED MEMBERS

Michael Rampino, Christina Riggio, Zack Kallis, Dr. Michael Mackie, Gary Scott, Caroline Halfacre, Tim Pye, Bryan Rench

LEGISLATIVELY REQUIRED MEMBERS

Rachel Kendzior

Children With Disabilities

Program Representative

Annette Larkin

Private, For-Profit Provider Representative

Dr. Sheila Halpin 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

BOARD OF EDUCATION MANATEE COUNTY

Gina Messenger, Mary Foreman, Chad Choate, Richard Tatem, Cindy Spray, Cynthia Saunders, Superintendent

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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.

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.

WHAT A GUY!

WORDS: School District of Manatee County PICTURES: Whitney Patton

The School District of Manatee County has partnered with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) to establish the first-ever Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science at Anna Maria Elementary School. The academy, named for the worldrenowned wildlife artist, conservationist, and businessman, will focus on marine sciences, conservation, and the arts.

The collaboration between the district and GHOF will begin this school year with the development of a K-5 curriculum that will include a special aquarium to be installed at the school for the program and accompanying art components. Students who finish the program will receive a certificate of completion from the academy.

Future years will see the development of Guy Harvey Academy curriculums for middle and high schools, slated for King Middle School and Manatee High School.

"It is a goal of our school district to bring innovative educational opportunities to our students to expand their career and life possibilities," said Superintendent Cynthia Saunders. "It's been a genuine pleasure to work with Dr. Harvey and everyone associated with his ocean foundation to make this academy a reality."

Dr. Harvey's vivid and colorful artwork has earned international prestige and is viewed in art galleries, exhibits, and stores and adorns a wide array of popular products, including apparel. Born in Germany, Dr. Harvey earned high honors in Marine Biology at Aberdeen University in Scotland and obtained a Doctorate in

Fisheries Management at the University of West Indies.

A lifelong advocate for the environment, Dr. Harvey has devoted his talent, time, and resources to protecting oceans, fish populations, and reef systems through the development of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University and The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Those institutions have made valuable contributions to protecting fish resources and biodiversity in the world's oceans.

In a recorded statement, Dr. Harvey and his daughter, Jessica Harvey, expressed their avid support for the academy. Jessica Harvey is an Environmental Conservationist and Co-Chair of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

Doug Evans, Chief Philanthropy Officer for the GHOF, was at the School Board meeting in Bradenton on Tuesday evening when the Board approved the agreement for the academy.

"I don't think there could possibly be a better fit for the very first Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science than Anna Maria Elementary," Evans said. "You can actually see the entrance to Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from the back of the school."

Providing Books and Mentorship for Young Learners

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

When Ted Lindenberg moved to Lakewood Ranch, he wanted to find a way to help people, especially in the process of reading. He joined a literacy council in Sarasota whose objective was to work with adults who have difficulties reading. However, while he found the organization wonderful, it wasn't quite enough for him; he needed to help children. Thus, Books for Kids was born. He says: "My whole background is with children and making a difference in the lives of children. I wanted to begin a program to help boys and girls read more effectively."

Ted's extensive educational background, from teacher to counselor to the school principal to district administrator, fostered his appreciation and passion for educating young ones.

Books for Kids became a program under the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch as Ted wanted a new way to engage members and the Club to make a difference in the community. Books for Kids started as a book distribution program nine years ago, where they brought a number of books to the schools, and every child in the school received a book. Today, the program is split into two entities: a pilot kindergarten program and a first, second, and thirdgrade program.

It takes a team of volunteers working many hours over multiple days to make Books for Kids the success that it is. On a Saturday, the books get delivered in boxes to the Annex building at the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. About 20 volunteers then take approximately 4,000 books out of the boxes and label them. The label has information for the parent, like

parent tips, on what they can do to help their child's reading comprehension. After they label the books, the volunteers put them away on shelves in the Annex.

Then, on a Tuesday, volunteers take the books from the shelves and place them into 125 different bags. Each bag has a teacher's name and the school on it and contains a read-aloud book with questions pertaining to the book. Wednesday mornings are for volunteers to pack up the bags in their cars and distribute them to 10 different Title I schools throughout Manatee County.

"I've always wanted to make a difference in the lives of these children, and I think we

are," Ted says. "We had one student try to give their mentor a nickel, and the mentor had said, 'Oh no, thank you, I don't need that.' The child said, 'I just need to say thank you, and I don't have anything to give.' The mentor replied, 'Just what you did just now to say thank you, that's enough for me.'"

Another student at Oneco Elementary School had greatly improved his reading comprehension. His Books for Kids mentor asked him if his parents were reading with him at home. He said: "No, I've been taking the books you give me and practicing every night."

some mentors are Rotarians, most are local community members. One might also think that a mentor would have to have a background in education, but most do not. Ted invites anyone interested to volunteer. Mentors go through a background check and then a training session so that nobody goes into a classroom without the proper training. The training consists of a lesson plan, what drives the lesson, the materials they're going to receive, how to talk about literacy, making it fun for the students, and explaining how impactful their relationship is with the students.

Diane Thomas is one of the mentors for the kindergarten pilot program. "This is my first time working with the Rotary's program. One of this program's wonderful advantages is giving the child a book. Sometimes these are kids who don't have books," Diane explains. "It also exposes children to a higher level of vocabulary. Children can learn any word you know, even ones you don't want them to know!"

Ted says that while he would love to be on the Today Show speaking about Books for Kids, he would not be able to run the program without the tremendous support of the school district, principals, and teachers, as well as the many volunteers.

Kindergarten Pilot Program

The kindergarten pilot program of Books for Kids was made possible by an increased net investment from the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County of $50,000. The program has been ready to launch for two years, but due to the Covid restrictions, it was pushed back to launching this year. It is being implemented in three classrooms across three different Title I schools in Manatee County. These mentors meet with the kindergarten students once a week for 21 weeks from October to the end of April, and they work with the same child every time.

The goal is to provide early intervention for the children and to have a one-onone experience with a mentor while also providing books for their at-home library. Sadly, a lot of these children don't have books at home. So, at the end of the school year, the students will have 21 high-quality books they've taken home after each session.

There are many benefits to the oneon-one relationship between student and mentor. One is that the mentor can fully explain the vocabulary and sight words that are being introduced. For example, what does 'friendship' or 'lonely' mean, or what are the scales on a fish?

Joanne Vernon, one of the coordinators for the kindergarten program,

describes this process as a "development of vocabulary, writing, and reading."

The students read at various levels, so the more advanced students can do more with their mentors to further their skills, and the students that struggle are getting the needed attention to improve. Each mentor adapts their lesson plan to meet the child's individual needs.

Included in the lesson is the use of manipulatives like magnetic letters and writing journals to build upon their vocabulary. The power of play makes the lesson more engaging and interactive so that the students don't just sit reading a book.

Susan Trivilla, another coordinator for the kindergarten program, talks about how one mentor, Deborah, went out of her way to do something special for the kids: "We had read a couple of books about bears, and Deborah's community group crocheted a bear for each child. They don't always get something other than the book, but they're building connections from the literature to various things in addition to building a relationship with their mentor." While the books don't necessarily coordinate with the teacher's classroom curriculum, the books' themes align with what the children

learning in kindergarten, such as friendship, empathy, and helping one another.

Karen King, a kindergarten teacher at Ballard Elementary, notices a big difference in her students. "They're more confident and excited about reading. When we're reading in class, they'll incorporate, 'Oh, I remember learning that with my mentor!' They're starting to make connections with it."

Ms. King says that her students needed this program a lot: "The socialization aspect impacts the children in knowing that someone else is in their corner that's there for them and cares. They even ask when they will get to see the mentors again."

One of her students, socially, tries to have a tough exterior but is one of the first to ask about the Books for Kids program every week. Ms. King even says he is more confident now and actively wants to learn and participate.

Another student was a little shy with her learning, but Ms. King noticed her "taking off" with her sight words. "Between me, working with her mentor, and her mom at home, it's just been this positive thing for her where I'm seeing this great growth," Ms. King says.

"I may be reading a different book in class to teach our standard, but they're using

what they've learned here (in Books for Kids) to help. They have that foundation now. It all works and weaves together."

The Superintendent selects the schools that Books for Kids is participating in then the school's principal chooses a kindergarten teacher. Sixty mentors volunteer between Ballard, Daughtry, and Oneco Elementary schools.

The goal for the kindergarten program is to have more volunteers so that they can add even more classes.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Program

Originally, Books for Kids was just the first through third-grade program, with five volunteers going into five classrooms and distributing 300 books per month. Today, nine years later, 125 volunteers are going into 125 classrooms and distributing 4,000 books per month. Last April, they distributed their 100,000th book.

This program is different because one volunteer will go into a classroom once a month and read a book to the entire class. This volunteer will return to the same classroom each month. While the volunteer reads the book, they will

associate the themes of the story with reallife details and ask engaging questions to assist in comprehension.

"We wanted to allow volunteers to participate once a month so that it would be easier to accommodate their various schedules. Many of our volunteers still work," Ted explains.

Like the kindergarten program, each student gets to take home a copy of the book the volunteer reads to them. This means that throughout the school year, the children will receive eight books for their at-home library.

Even with a monthly visit, the students still build a positive relationship with the classroom mentor. The volunteer brings more of themselves into the classroom as the relationship becomes more established. One important feature is that they'll talk about their occupation or what they've done as a career, which provides career education exposure for the students.

Ted says: "We are trying to go into every first, second, and third-grade classroom in the ten Title I schools in Manatee County. It's completely dependent on the number of volunteers we have. We have 125 volunteers doing the monthly program, but there are still two schools where we do not have mentors going into the classroom. However, books are still being sent to the schools and distributed to each student."

2023

Arts Alive Celebration

Monday, MARCH 27, 2023, 5 - 8 p.m.

Grove Ballroom at La kewood Ranch

10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch

Presented by The Manatee Arts Education Council, in partnership with the School District of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Foundation

Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres

Featuring K-12 performances, student art auction and recognition of exceptional arts education leaders

For sponsorship information visit w w w.maecarts.org

The Manatee Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution is deductible for tax purposes, subject to limitations established by IRS laws and regulations. Tax ID #65 0037457

While many families from all over the U.S. travel to Florida for an annual trip to Disney World, Craig Warzecha's family from New Jersey, made the pilgrimage for a different reason. They came to experience spring training games in Florida's historic Grapefruit League.

During February and March, 15 Major League Baseball teams leave their home states (many still amid blustery winter months) to play a short season in the Florida sunshine. It is a tradition dating back more than 100 years, with around 1.5 million fans attending games annually throughout the state.

During his childhood, Craig and his family traveled to Florida to watch this national pastime. With an itinerary filled with beach days and baseball games, there was little time for anything else. The family of four once squeezed in a trip to Disney but never went again as they preferred the crack of a bat, the pop of a mitt, and the sound of cheering fans to the theme park's long lines and crowds.

When they weren't vacationing in Florida for spring training, Craig got his baseball fix in their home state. He enjoyed rooting for major teams like the New York Yankees,

WORDS: Merab Favorite PICTURES: Whitney Patton

but his favorite interactions were with the minor leaguers. Going to night games on Independence Day and watching fireworks were some of Warzecha's favorite childhood memories.

"There's something about the minor league experience. It's more family-oriented and just a lot of fun," said Warzecha. "Children have better access to the players before they make it to the big league. Being able to meet them and get their autographs was something I really felt was special as a kid."

Craig's ballpark experiences as a child inspired him to pursue a career in sports. He currently serves as the General Manager of the Bradenton Marauders and helps coordinate sales and marketing for the Pittsburg Pirates' Florida games. Warzecha first joined the Pirates in 2015 and became the Assistant General Manager of the Marauders in 2017.

In addition to overseeing the sales team for Pirates Spring Training and the Marauders, he has played a pivotal role in the daily operations of LECOM Park. His baseball career has included stints with the Lakewood Blue Claws, Minor League Baseball headquarters in St. Petersburg, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Clearwater Threshers.

"It's more about what's going on off the field than the game itself," said Warzecha. "These games are affordable and familyfriendly. We do many themed nights like setting off fireworks near the Fourth of July or doing a dedicated Star Wars night; it's all part of the experience."

Bradenton's LECOM Park, formerly McKechnie Field, has served the community for nearly a century. It is one the oldest spring training stadiums in the country, hosting a team in Florida's Grapefruit League since 1923. Since 1969, the park has been the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates; The 2023 season will mark their 55th season at the park.

"The Pirates have a longstanding relationship and partnership with the City of Bradenton, Manatee County, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, and other partners in the community. We are actually the third longest-tenured major league team with a spring training site," said Craig.

Located at 1611 Ninth Street West near downtown Bradenton, the original name of the field was City Park, which was changed in 1927 to Ninth Street Park. In 1962, it was named McKechnie Field

after baseball great Bill McKechnie, who managed the Pirates when they won the world series in 1925.

On November 10, 2009, the Pirates purchased an affiliate league in Florida. Formerly known as the Sarasota Reds, the Pirates moved the team to Bradenton, where they were renamed the Bradenton Marauders. The Marauders became the first Florida State League team in Bradenton since Bradenton Growers, a team that dissolved in 1926.

The park is known for its old Florida character and charm. The field features a Spanish Mission architectural style with arches, stucco, and a historic grandstand area, popular in the 1920s. The quaint structure is small by today's standards, as it's not a typical stadium size but will accommodate 8,000 fans through raised seating.

Since the original construction was completed in 1923, the field has been renovated three times in 1992, 2008, and 2013. In 2017, the name changed to LECOM Park to acknowledge the growing partnership between the Pirates and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, or LECOM.

Another unique facility has kept the Pittsburgh Pirates renewing their contract in Bradenton. Pirate City, a state-ofthe-art sports complex, provides an allinclusive residency for players. Located in east Bradenton, it features a dormitory, cafeteria, exercise facilities, training grounds, and education center.

Built in 2008, Pirate City was the first allinclusive facility built in Florida. Today it hosts players of all levels, sports camps, and community events. Players essentially never leave the premises as they are provided three meals a day, entertainment, practicing facilities, and more. There's even a fantasy camp where people from all over the world pay to live one week in the life of a ball player."

"The facility stays busy throughout the year," explained Craig. "Since the Pirates pioneered the idea in 2008, other teams have done their own versions. There is

great value in having everything all under one roof."

In addition to providing entertainment and bringing in tourism dollars, the Pirates and Marauders support five key groups and organizations in the Manatee County Community that provide education, help first responders, support growth and empowerment in children and young adults, and provide funding to other groups focused on youth sports.

The Marauders partner with the School District of Manatee County and the Manatee Education Foundation on various initiatives throughout the year, including the "Adopt-a-School" program through their non-profit organization Pirates Charities.

A Battle of the Badges game has become a way to raise money for first responder charity groups. Every year, the Bradenton Police Department and Manatee Sheriff's Office play each other, and all proceeds benefit their affiliate foundations. In addition, the players get to personally show their gratitude for these organizations by serving them lunch before the game. Another fun event that benefits these organizations is the first responder's appreciation night, where automobiles like fire trucks, police cars, and EMS trucks are

displayed in the fan plaza of LECOM Park, and children get to tour the vehicles and speak to officers, firefighters, and other essential emergency personnel.

"These are both really fun ways that we raise funds for their charities while also providing entertainment to families and our community," said Craig.

The teams do a similar fundraiser for PACE Center for Girls. This time, players don tropical jerseys for Margaritaville Night, then auction them off to benefit the nonprofit, which helps girls and young women receive education and training for future success.

The Marauders also support local youth sports, including Manatee County youth baseball and softball leagues, as well as the Miracle League of Manasota.

Despite all the nostalgia the park and teams bring to the community, there are also a lot of exciting things on the forefront for both the Pirates and the Marauders.

The Bradenton Marauders finished their 2021 with a series sweep against the Tampa Tarpons, securing a Low-A Southeast League Championship. This will mean a lot of talented players will join the Pirates in the coming year.

"We're going to be seeing a lot of young and exciting players that will eventually make their major league debut at the Pittsburgh Pirates," Craig explained. "But even if you don't like sports, it's just fun to come out to LECOM Park and watch the games."

Behind the scenes, Craig and his team are working to improve and enhance the fan experience at LECOM Park. Craig wants every fan to have the same memorable experience he had as a child, whether it is their first or 100th game, he said.

"I just remember my excitement when I was a kid, getting autographs and pictures from my favorite players," he said. "When you see a child's face light up when they get called out to the field, all the hard work we put in on these theme nights makes it all worth it." Check out the schedule at BradentonMarauders.com, which includes a back-to-school night on August 5, with a backpack giveaway, information about summer camp, and a complete game schedule for both teams.

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PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

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A Circle Of Givers...

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

The needs of local women, children, and families are being radically changed for the better, thanks to The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle. Based out of Lakewood Ranch, the Circle is comprised of philanthropic women who are residents of The Lake Club community.

Barbara Najmy founded The Lake Club (TLC) Women's Giving Circle in 2014 after having the vision to create a women-only donor-advised philanthropic fund within her home's community. Thirty women gathered and bonded over friendship and the shared interest of wanting to do more for those in need. Now with 127 members, Barbara credits the significant growth that's happened in the last four years to the excellent leadership team they have in place.

TLC Women's Giving Circle's mission is to support organizations that address the physical, emotional, and educational needs of women, children, and families across Manatee and Sarasota counties. Some of the local organizations that the Women's Giving Circle has given grants to are Mothers Helping Mothers, The Twig, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC), Take Stock in Children Manatee, Still Point Mission, and more. They ensure that all donations remain in the local area.

But what exactly is a "giving circle"? It's a group of people with shared values who come together to make a difference. The members pool their time and money and decide how it should be allocated. This allows the members to give with intentionality and thought to organizations that mean the most to them and have the most significant impact.

Barbara states: "We take the interest of women and direct and execute their passions to make a difference."

Today, TLC Women's Giving Circle is a Founder's 50 member of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund in conjunction with the Manatee Community Foundation. They are building an Endowment Fund in perpetuity to ensure a continued ability to support the community and leave a lasting legacy. The fund currently has over $100,000 and is growing.

These women don't just support the Circle monetarily but also with hands-on involvement with the organizations through personal outreach. For example, Julie Swan, Social and Fundraising Chair, volunteers a couple of days a month at The Twig, a store in which foster children can come and shop for clothing for free once each month they are in the care of a supervising agency. Each child can pick seven items and a pair of shoes. For Christmas, the children were also able to pick out a toy.

Julie says: "It's their day and time, so they can pick out whatever they want. During Christmas, they had the toys on display. To see

the kids that walked in and watch their faces light up when they saw this pile of toys was just awesome."

Over the past summer, TLC Women's Giving Circle held a Sneaker Drive at The Twig. They were able to collect 320 pairs of sneakers, but it was one pair of shoes in particular that truly made all the difference. The Twig reached out to the women to tell them about how a child had come in to shop with large feet and badly needed a pair of sneakers, but they didn't have any in his size. Just as he was getting ready to leave, the Amazon truck came with the delivery of the shoes the Circle was able to contribute. In that shipment was the perfect pair of black, size 13 sneakers.

"This kid left thinking, 'My day is complete.' It's that perhaps small but hopefully meaningful interactions and impact that we have," Julie explains.

Lauren Hirsch, Treasurer, says: "We have a responsibility to pay it forward. It's not just about giving our money but about giving our time as well. Those who are very involved and passionate with the group feel it's a perfect way to do both."

TLC Women's Giving Circle aims to do two major fundraising events per year and an additional one or two smaller ones. They held their Third Annual Lake Club Turkey Trot this year on Thanksgiving Day. The Trot was done in connection with three race directors in their community: David Ahrens and Jeff and Elizabeth Waddle. With over 200 registrants, nearly 170 crossed the finish line, and $17,500 was raised for The Food Bank of Manatee. The Steven and Natalee Herrig Foundation matched this dollar amount to bring the total to $35,000, translating to 50,000 meals provided for local families.

They ended the year granting $41,330 with matches equaling $40,030. Their total impact was $81,360, reaching 19 organizations. This money comes from personal collection efforts, individual donors, and partners. Head of the Grant Committee, Nancy Lepain, has been responsible for seeing through her scope to

ensure that nearly every dollar that comes in is matched. Embracing Our Differences (EOD) was another organization touched by the Women's Giving Circle. Based in Sarasota, the organization "uses the power of art and education to expand consciousness and open the heart to celebrate the diversity of the human family" through an annual large-scale art exhibition and a series of educational initiatives, programs, and resources designed for teachers and students.

Diane Cohen, a TLC Women's Giving Circle member, is directly involved with EOD and was instrumental in organizing the book drive and the upcoming EOD art exhibit tour and luncheon. In August, the women got together to label nearly 3,000 books for EOD that were delivered to elementary school students. The two books were titled "Bucket Filling From A to Z" and "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" On November 15th, National Reading Day, the books were read to over 400 classrooms throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties.

By helping these locally based organizations, the women of the Giving Circle truly feel that the breadth and depth of what they can do can maximize their impact. Deborah Callahan-Stratton, Chair of the Outreach Committee, says that their strength as a group comes from being able to support organizations that are helping a specific sector very well.

"Fundraising is obviously going to support the outreach programs, but there's a difference between a handout and a helping hand.

We're so blessed that not only can we help one person or family at a time, but we can also help one organization at a time. Whether that's The Twig, Hope for Children, where they're giving families a safe place to stay and feeding them, the food banks, or Embracing Our Differences," Deborah says.

Julie talks about why helping whole organizations is essential to the Giving Circle: "We're not going to pretend to do it better than they do it. Their missions are their focus and passion, and we want to support them in doing that. We tend to support agencies that aren't huge because our grants aren't huge, but they make a difference to the groups we give to."

Jennifer Alokeh is the Board Vice Chair and was brought on earlier last year, and since then, their infrastructure "just fell into play," Barbara describes it. "She's our succession, our next generation."

Barbara and Jennifer's responsibilities as Chair and Vice Chair for The Lake Club Women's Giving Circle are extensive. They are the leaders of the board and steer committee chairs, as well as are responsible for the composition development of the organization through strategic planning. They provide information to the board and conduct board meetings that involve and facilitate all chairs.

As the Chair, Barbara mentors Jennifer in her Vice Chair position. They conduct periodic meetings with steering committee chairs to advise and ensure that chairs feel empowered and have the tools

to execute their tasks seamlessly. They attend philanthropy-focused and business luncheons and meet with Manatee Community Foundation for ongoing mentorship. Their strong direction and leadership are integral keys to TLC Women's Giving Circle's success.

Barbara says: "Every single one of these women is a strong leader and well respected in our community. We are linked to one another and have only made each other stronger throughout the growth of the organization. We are not paid and do this out of the goodness of our hearts, and the number of hours we have spent putting this organization together is immeasurable."

James and Cherman

Kids Companion Dog

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BOY QUITE LIKE JAMES.

At six, this curious child knows no strangers; talks non-stop to anyone; holds long conversations over the fence with the grownup neighbor; asks his patent-attorney dad complex, abstract questions; plays the violin, accompanied by his mom on piano; identifies orchestra instruments in original Beatles songs; dances to vintage Van Halen LP albums on an old stereo (after following the parental rule of “no Van Halen before 8:00 a.m.”); and has learned to take 21 pills per session in his lifelong fight against childhood cancer, the same cancer that stole his vision.

For that last skill, though, James needs a little help from his best friend, Cherman. A Kids Companion Dog for kids with vision loss, Cherman always rests his head on James’ knee during weekly pill time, as if to say, “C’mon James, you can do it—I’m right here with you.”

“I love you, Chermie. You’re the best yellow dog of all time,” says James, every day.

“He’s a quirky dog, and so affectionate by nature,” says James’ dad, Wiley.

Inseparable, the two share life like soulmates, bosom buddies, Frick and Frack. Sure, they also play with James’ siblings, 9-year-old Eliza and 7-year-old Charlie, but where James goes, Cherman follows.

When James plays the violin, Cherman listens at his feet. When the kids build a fort out of pillows and blankets, Cherman’s bed sits in the middle. When James races around the backyard or swings on the swing, Cherman races too, and has learned to avoid James’ wild, swinging feet. Since James can’t see Cherman very well, his dog waits patiently for the jump-off, avoiding a collision.

But this smart, well-behaved, people-loving, cuddly dog is there for more than fun-and-games, despite appearances. He’s there on a mission, one that parents Eva and Wiley planned from the beginning.

Diagnosed at three months old with a glioma, a spider-web-like tumor that presses on the optic nerve, James has fought cancer longer than he remembers, with his parents leading the charge. Full of faith, prayer, and hard-won information, they’re playing the long game and planning for James’ future—one full of hope, and one that someday includes a guide dog.

“Cherman isn’t officially a guide dog—but one of the reasons I love this relationship James is building is because having a service dog is going to be essential,” says Wiley. “In all likelihood, he’s not going to be able to live independently without having a dog. My greatest hope for James is that he will be healthy and be able to lead a full and active life. I don’t know that he will be able to see much as he gets older, but he has a really profound intellect. I hope that will continue to develop, and that James will be able to go through high school, college, graduate school—if that’s what he wants to do—and go out in the world and be gainfully employed and independent.”

“I would love anything for James that will help him have a full, independent life,” says Eva. “I 100% think a guide dog would open doors for him to do things he may not be able to do on his own. Right now, he holds my hand, he holds a teacher’s hand, he holds my husband’s hand, he holds his sister’s hand. But we can’t do everything with him forever—I probably won’t go to college with him. But I hope he has a dog he can rely on, that can enable him to do a lot more than he could otherwise.

“There’s no denying the whole family loves Cherman, but we got Cherman for James,” Eva continues. “Cherman is part of James’ big, full life—he’s James’ special friend. We always talk about how much we love him and how grateful we are for him. It’s a blessing to have Cherman. He’s part of the family.”

Come walk with us!

Photo © James Horan

11th

ANNUAL

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

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RESPONDING TO THE NEED…

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

In October of 2021, the Manatee County Leadership Prayer Breakfast was hosted by the From Cradle to College Foundation to Honor Our Heroes on National First Responders Day. The event generated $30,000 in scholarships to benefit future First Responders, and $15,000 of that money raised was matched by Mr. Herb Moller of the Five Talent Fund. In May 2022, a check for $30,000 was presented to Manatee Technical College (MTC) Foundation to support students seeking a career in being first responders.

MTC's Florida Law Enforcement Academy has a job placement rate of 95% and an on-time completion rate of 94%, the Firefighter program has a job placement and on-time completion rate of 84%, and the Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician Combined program has a job placement and on-time completion rate of 100%.

With such high numbers, it's no surprise that these programs are highly regarded by incoming students and employers.

MTC is one of only ten schools in the state that does complete background checks, including a polygraph exam, prior to admission, just as if the recruits were going through the employment process. The Law Enforcement Program Director, Jay Romine, wants to ensure that the students are hirable and not just walking out of the program with a piece of paper that they're not able to use.

He says: "The Advisory Board has the sheriff and police chiefs on it, in other words, our employers. So, when looking at applicants, the Advisory Board looks at it from the standpoint of if this student had already been through the academy and passed the state exam, would they hire them because of their background? We feel like we're doing the students a disservice if we know from the beginning that they will not get hired."

While agencies sponsor many student recruits, the programs still have openenrollment students that pay their own way. To help with this, the From Cradle to College Foundation partnered with

the MTC Foundation to administer and distribute the First Responder Scholarship Funds. Once funds are awarded to the student, they may be used for specific program-related purposes such as tuition, books, uniforms, and other expenses for MTC First Responder programs.

As a Guardian ad Litem, mentor for Take Stock in Children, a Big Brother, and more, Herb Moller has seen firsthand the importance of technical education in a person's life. "There is too much emphasis on pushing children to go to college. It's not the best thing for everyone or our country. We need people who are skilled in technical fields," he emphasizes.

Currently, scholarship funds are available for students wanting to pursue a career in one of the applicable programs offered by MTC. A counselor or financial advisor should reach out to MTC Foundation on behalf of the student to notify them of their need and request an application for the student.

Marie O'Connell, Interim Director of the From Cradle to College Foundation, says: "MTC and the MTC Foundation are doing valuable work in this (First Responders) area. They give the students the resources they need to succeed. We are very proud to be partners with them."

For more information please visit www. fromcradletocollegefoundation.org.

THE GIVING TREE 2022!

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) held its fifth annual Giving Tree event this year, where parents in the community were assisted in providing Christmas gifts for their children. In total, there were 21 families on the tree, and all of them were "adopted."

ELC staff, as well as The Bradenton Your CBD Store, contributed by "adopting" a child or entire family and providing them with presents along with the supplies needed to wrap the gifts. Each child was represented by a flower on the tree. Listed on the flowers were the children's names, ages, clothing needs, toy items, and a "wish" item. In total, 50 children received gifts this year.

Being able to give back to the families in our community this holiday season is something that we are proud to be able to do. Additionally, the families were kind enough to write "Thank You" notes to express their gratitude. Huge thanks to everyone at Your CBD Store for their kindness and generosity too!

Childcare Provider Directory

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

Adventures In Learning

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

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

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

All About Children Christian Child Care Center 447 North Lime Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 941-365-4172

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

Angel's Friends Child Development 611 North East Avenue Sarasota, FL 34237 941-953-3852

A New Beginning Early Child Care Learning Center 2185 Wood Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941-316-1555

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

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

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

Asprea Family Day Care Home 4010 Hina Drive Sarasota, FL 34241 941-378-1920

Baby Fox Academy

3755 South Tuttle Avenue Sarsota, FL 34239 941-953-1856

Bible Baptist Church of Palmetto Academy

1750 6th Avenue West, Unit 101 Palmetto, FL 34221 941-479-4958

Blanton Family Day Care Home 216 60th Street NW

Bradenton, FL 34209 (941) 792-8563

Boys & Girls Club Daughtrey Elementary

515 63rd Avenue East

Bradenton, FL 34203 (941) 761-2582 ext. 116

Boys & Girls Club DeSoto

5236 30th Street West

Bradenton, FL 34207 941-758-3828

Boys & Girls Club Manatee Elementary 1609 6th Avenue East

Bradenton, FL 34208 (941) 761-2582 ext. 119

Boys & Girls Club Oneco Elementary 5214 22nd Street Court East Bradenton, FL 34203 (941) 761-2582 ext. 118

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

Boys & Girls Club Rogers Garden/Bullock Elementary

515 113 Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 (941) 761-2582 ext. 117

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

Bradenton Early Learning Academy 2015 7th Street West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-216-3305

Bradenton Early Learning Academy (Downtown) 202 3rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-216-3060

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

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

Bright Beginnings Preschool

4111 Webber Street Sarasota, FL 34232 941-921-6722

Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool, LLC

1617 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-251-5436

Bright Minds Family Home Daycare, Inc. 2101 32nd Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-565-9058

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

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

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

Community Haven for Adults & Children with Disabilities 4405 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235 941-355-8808

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

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

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

CRPE Academy

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

DC's Child Care Center

5105 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-6090

Discovery Point Twelve Oaks 7218 55th Ave Bradenton, FL 34203 941-200-4250

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

Doran Family Day Care Home 4719 Cayo Costa Place Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-4802

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

Faith Preschool of Faith UCC 4850 SR 64 East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-7895

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

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

FORZA Child Development Center, Inc.

12214 US Highway 301 North Parrish, FL 34219 941-981-5885

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

Foundations Christian Montessori Academy of Sarasota 4141 Desoto Road Sarasota, FL 34235

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

Grandma's Babysitting Center

1728 26th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-708-9864

Great Minds Childcare

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

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

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

Horizons Unlimited Christian Academy 2674 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL 34234 941-957-0409

House of JBaby's Preschool 1300 Manatee Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-896-7415

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

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

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

Johnson Family Day Care Home 2730 22nd Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-365-1685

Jones Family Day Care Home 10447 Brendle Road Myakka City, FL 34251 941-219-3605

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

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

Just for Girls

1500 10th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-8988

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

Kids Academy Plus 57th 5415 38th Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-3678

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

Kids Academy Plus HL 4635 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34207 941-345-4040

Kids Club Child Development & Educational Center of Bradenton, LLC 5231 4th Avenue Circle East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-900-2812

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

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

Lakewood Ranch Early Learning Center LLC 11520 Palmbrush Trail Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202 941-727-9990

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

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

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

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

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

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

Learning With Love 2712 47th Avenue West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-729-0442

Legendary Steps Academy, LLC

1010 North Orange Avenue

Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 243-7818

Let's Learn Early Childhood Center

1415 7th Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-567-4279

Lil' Angels Daycare, Inc.

1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640

Linda Evans Family Day Care Home

1500 7th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-720-9640

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

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

Little Peoples Place 374 Scott Avenue Sarasota, FL 34243 941-355-8741

Love And Laugh Fun Care Center

2811 17th Street Sarasota, FL 34234 941-952-1626

Loving Hands Daycare

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

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

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

Morgan Large Family Day Care Home 3311 Barstow Street

Sarasota, FL 34235 941-957-0608

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

Next Generation Academy

4636 26th Street West

Bradenton, FL 34207 941-251-2491

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

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

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

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

Play & Grow Preschool Inc. 2435 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34237 941-366-7300

Portal To Adventure 911 Rye Road East Bradenton, FL 34212 941-739-3929

Precious Jewels Academy Learning Center 2700 Leon Avenue Sarasota, FL 34234 941-360-1122

Primrose School Lakewood Ranch North 5730 New Haven Blvd. Bradenton, FL 34211 813-230-2827

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

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

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

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

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

Sandman Preschool & Academy 924 Wilmerling Avenue

Sarasota, FL 34243 941-755-2591

School District of Manatee County

Professional Support Center

2501 63rd Avenue East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-751-6550

School for Constructive Play

6608 Marina Drive

Holmes Beach, FL 34217 941-778-2210

Smarty Pants Preschool LLC

832 62nd Street Circle East

Bradenton, FL 34208 941-747-7710

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

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

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

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

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 Pine Village 1103 56th Avenue Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-827-2887

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

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

Teachable Moments Learning Center LLC 3005 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-900-1022

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

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 Renaissance Preschool Inc. 2500 10th Street Sarasota, FL 34237 941-365-0749

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

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

Toddler's Inn Child Care Center LLC

2611 9th Street East Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-4631

Tree of Life Preschool Inc

2200 26th Street West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-747-1756

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

Vanessa Hawkins Family Day Care Home 2674 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way Sarasota, FL 34234 941-957-0409

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

Walker Family Day Care Home 3213 44th Drive East Bradenton, FL 34203 941-752-6629

Wee Care Christian Academy 10540 Hamilton Way Myakka City, FL 34251 941-322-6409

Wee World Child Development Center 1020 4th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-0810

Weitz Family Day Care Home 6405 37th Avenue Circle West Bradenton, FL 34209 941-792-7257

Willis Family Day Care Home 3206 Clark Drive Sarasota, FL 34234 941-355-6574

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

1. Read with your child for at least 15 minutes every day!

2. Help your child learn to write their first and last name - learning letters is a beautiful way to prepare for kindergarten; the letters of your child's name will be most memorable!

3. Encourage your child to master personal hygiene routines with independence and privacy.

4. Know the procedures and gather the required documents for enrolling your child in kindergarten. Learn more at www.manateeschools.net/registration.

1. Explore the natural world with your child. When children actively engage in their learning, they become excited. This excitement propels them to want to learn more and share their ideas, knowledge, and experiences with others.

2. To ensure your child is making academic progress, be on the lookout for the Star Parent Report from your child's VPK provider. Not all VPK programs run on the same calendar, so the time frame may vary.

1. Read books together about starting kindergarten.

2. Explore books that talk about shapes, numbers, and patterns.

3. Build with blocks and notice the patterns in everyday life.

Early Learning Taskforce of Manatee County

PARENT TIPS

1. Complete the online registration process to enroll your child in kindergarten at www.manateeschools. net/registration. You will need to provide a variety of documents.

2. Begin talking with your child about kindergarten positively.

3. To ensure your child is making academic progress, be on the lookout for the Star Parent Report from your child's VPK provider. Remember you are your child's first and best teacher. This report will provide information on your child's strengths and areas of need in early math and literacy.

1. Attend the Kindergarten Round-Up at your child's school. Visit your school's website for more information.

2. Support your child's independence! Allow your child the ability to perform routines with multiple steps (washing hands, brushing teeth, getting dressed, zipping and buttoning, etc.) with little to no adult assistance.

3. Encourage your child to listen and follow multi-step directions. For example, find a pair of socks, put them on, and then find your shoes.

• Create good attendance habits! Make sure your child goes to school every day they’re healthy.

• Set aside time after school to talk with your child about their day.

• Read and respond to everything the school sends home!

• Speak positively about the school and teacher in front of your child.

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten

Children with families involved in school are more likely to earn higher grades, graduate from high school, develop self-confidence, and have better classroom and social behavior. Every day is an opportunity to prepare your child for school success, and these efforts should start before kindergarten. The tips below, provided by the Early Learning Taskforce of Manatee County, can help provide a smooth transition to kindergarten process.

To build a strong relationship and a foundation for your child’s learning and future success, continue to use the tips below to help provide a smooth transition to kindergarten. Remember to read every day, practice independence, engage your child in frequent conversations, and be alert to the importance of quality education.

PARENT TIPS

1. Enroll your child in a VPK program. Visit www.elc-manatee.org/VPK to register today!

2. Visit the local Transition to Kindergarten webpage for more information, parent tips, and community connections at www.elc-manatee.org/ Transition-to-Kindergarten.

1. Build your at-home library by visiting a public library or a community giveaway library. Having access to books in your home creates better academic success. Find locations at www.elc-manatee.org/Book-Nooks.

2. Use dinnertime to look back on all the fun you and your child had that day. Ask your child what their favorite parts of their day were, then share yours. By reflecting, you are helping your child build vocabulary and memory skills.

3. The goal of all VPK programs is to help develop early literacy and numeracy skills. To gauge progress, children will participate in Florida's Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) using Star Early Literacy. This assessment will occur at least 3 times in the VPK year. Be on the lookout for your Star Parent Report so you can fully understand how your child is progressing.

DECEMBER

1. Download a FREE VPK Calendar at www.elc-manatee.org/VPK-Calendar

2. Play and read with your child. Playing encourages bonding. Visit www.naeyc. org/our-work/families/10-thingsevery-parent-play to learn more.

3. Build the habit of good attendance when children are healthy enough for school. Missing 1-2 days of preschool every few weeks can be harder for your child to develop early reading skills and be prepared for kindergarten.

4. Introduce social/emotional skills to your little ones. Practice this skill by encouraging your child to express their feelings in a way that can be understood and carefully responded to by their caregiver. Visit www.naeyc. org/our-work/families/help-yourpreschooler-gain-self-control to learn more.

1. Make a list of simple chores for your child to help you with this month (feeding the pets, matching socks, counting forks for the dinner table).

2. Find your child's school zone online at www.manateeschools.net/ schoollocator.

3. Learn about school choice options online at www.manateeschools.net/ schoolchoice.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• Remake Learning Days, presented by the Suncoast Campaign for GradeLevel Reading with the support of The Patterson Foundation, brings multi-generational hands-on learning experiences that are robust, free, accessible, and open to the public!

• Soar in 4 also hosts fun events monthly that are offered for free to families! You'll get learning materials and books to take home that help to support literacy skills at home.

SUMMER PRIOR TO PREK AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER

How do I find a VPK provider for my child?

Visit the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County website at www.elc-manatee.org.

Visit the Department of Children and Families website to view various provider profiles at https://caressearch.myflfamilies.com/PublicSearch

Call the ELC of Manatee County to receive a Child Care Resources and Referral customized list of VPK providers at (941) 757-2900.

Prekindergarten Matters

Research shows children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten programs:

 Perform better on standardized tests.

 Have better school attendance rates.

 Develop lifelong social and emotional skills.

 Are less likely to drop out of school.

Kindergarten screenings show that children who complete VPK are more prepared for Kindergarten than those who do not.

Source: The Center for Public Education

Florida is a national leader in prekindergarten access.

VPK emphasizes quality learning from qualified instructors using developmentally appropriate materials.

KEYNOTE: Jack Hartmann's Super Fun Learning Songs make learning more fun with educational content, cool beats kids love, and fun movements! Research-based, and teacher approved, Jack's music helps children learn important state, national, and early childhood standards.

SESSIONS: Yoga to Boost ASQ Scores

Art with Eric Carle Books

Phoneme Fun Finding Your Joy & MUCH More!

For general questions, please call (941) 212-4986

SOCIAL PROJECT: Healthy

ON THE SPOT FOR $10,000 GRANT…

WORDS: Rachel Spivey

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) has been awarded a grant for $10,000 through the Manatee Community Foundation to help financially support their Spot On Program. The Spot On Program seeks to reduce communication, self-regulation, and functional life skill deficits that may interfere with student progression in the early learning environment.

This grant is made possible through the Weichel Family Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation.

Many times, young children in preschool classrooms with limited social or academic communication abilities struggle to meet school expectations. These children may have access to therapy, but the carry-over between the therapeutic setting and home or school life is often unavailable. Spot On seeks to create teams of therapists, teachers, and families to support the child in all environments. Spot On funds 30 minutes of professional development and collaboration per child per week. This same practice is also applied toward addressing skill concerns with self-regulation and functional life skills. These skills can be critical in the early learning setting to help children become more independent and make the social and academic gains necessary for kindergarten preparedness.

Darrell King, ELC Chief Executive Officer, said: "We would like to thank the Manatee Community Foundation for their generous contribution, prioritizing Early Learning in our community. With this grant, we will be able to continue Spot On. Spot On has the potential to close learning gaps, intervene early, and uplift the learning environment for participating children."

The kindergarten readiness rates in Manatee County represent a call to professional action, and we feel Spot On answers this cry. When bringing therapeutic practices into the classroom, the barriers children who struggle to communicate or self-regulate

face are often lowered as suddenly their teachers have access to strategies to support their unique needs. A child is a complex being with needs outside of the academic domain. Spot On feels that to reach academic standards, one must address the needs of the whole child. With access to weekly training and support, teachers can grow in skills beyond pedagogy and incorporate therapeutic practices into their entire day, allowing students to progress faster.

Moreover, the learning environment is elevated when the learned strategies are applied to all children in the classroom. These modifications allow for more appropriate developmental functioning, which creates less frustration and more success for children. Finally, when children have access to adults with the skills to meet their needs, it is a win for all!

Play a Vital Role

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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

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

Woodland Play Group 9:00am-11:30am

Island Branch Library Family Story Time 10:00am

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

Palmetto Library Preschool Storytime 10:00am

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College Wednesday Play Date 10:00am-12:00pm

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

29

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

30

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

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

31

Jumpin Fun Glow Night 6:00pm

Parrish Elite Open Gym 6:00pm-8:00pm

Bradenton Riverwalk Music in the Park 6:00pm-8:00pm

On The Bookshelf

REVIEWS: Colleen Hartnett

(Birth to 3)

By Annie Kubler

Teaching and using sign language to children as young as eight months enables young children to communicate basic needs before language skills are fully developed. Simple and clear instructions allow even a novice to join in and model signing for young children. Endearing illustrations of diverse toddlers plus text depicting the song make for a beautiful, durable board book to share with your child. Part of a collection from the publisher Child's Play that promotes sign language with some of the classic nursery rhymes and songs.

(7-9)

By Dan Gutmanand, Illustrated by Jim Paillot

With Easter hippity-hopping around the corner, this exciting and whacky read will get you into the Easter spirit! What could be more exhilarating than an Easter egg hunt at a mansion hosted by the mayor of the town? This silly story is a great chapter book filled with imagination, creativity, candy, and even the Easter Bunny! Who will find the golden egg and receive the one-thousand-dollar grand prize? If that isn't enough egg-citement, the book also includes bonus mazes, puzzles, and other games inside the book too! Hop into this egg-celent story and start reading!

(4-6)

By Jessica Spanyol

Part of the Clive's Jobs set, this sturdy board book follows Clive and his friends as he becomes a librarian. The darling illustrations of a diverse group of friends present the many tasks a librarian may encounter in a day. This a fantastic way to introduce going to the library and the role of a librarian. Wonderful extension of dramatic play and all its benefits, from building selfconfidence, taking turns, and other social skills to boosting receptive and expressive language skills. Easily turn any area into a library with books, scrap paper, writing utensils, stamps, a cart or wagon, and office supplies (tape, rulers, index cards, highlighters, colored pencils, etc.)

(10-12)

By Jennifer Cervantes

The author's debut novel is about a twelve-year-old girl (Izzy) who discovers a battered baseball with a muddled phrase, "Because…magic". Izzy spends her summer visiting her Nana in rural New Mexico, unraveling the mystery and secrets surrounding the baseball. The author brings the New Mexican landscape alive with majestic mountains, whispering winds, and tortilla suns. Complete with a Spanish-to-English glossary at the back of the book; this story will enhance any adolescent's sense of enchantment, magic, and storytelling.

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.

DeSoto Children's Parade:

WORDS & PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

Dating back to 1948, the De Soto Children's Parade has been a great source of joy for young ones in Manatee County. This tradition was created by the Hernando de Soto Historical Society and included children of all ages parading through what is now Old Main Street to where Pier 22 sits. While the Hernando De Soto Historical Society also facilitates the De Soto Grand Parade, this parade puts the kids in charge.

The parade once featured children from cradle to 12 years old with four classes to enter. The first class covered birth to toddlers, Class Two covered three to eight years, Class Three entrants were eight to twelve years, and Class Four was the floats category. The 1949 Children's Parade float division winner depicted "The Old Woman in the Shoe." Bradenton Trailer Park manager, Bobbie Broiler, designed the float with trailer park resident Reine Osgerby driving the float in costume. Six children rode in the shoe, peeping from the top and through windows in the heel.

In 1959, the Children's Parade moved from Bradenton to Palmetto, now starting at the Manatee County Fairgrounds and ending at Sutton Park. This parade route is approximately a mile long.

Today, the De Soto Children's Parade entrants are geared toward early learners aged preschool through elementary school. Floats of all shapes and sizes are designed and built in schoolrooms or homes to be marched down the historic streets of Palmetto. This difference with this year's Children's Parade is that groups can also join, not just a class or school. You'll see dance groups and sporting teams represented in addition to classes.

"The goal this year was to expand. That's why the theme is Manatee's Got Talent. We didn't want to restrict the theme because we didn't want to deter a group from participating or make them feel they don't have the chance to win a prize. With it being so open, we have more chances of greater participation and awards granted," explains Gus Sokos, Executive Director for the Hernando de Soto Historical Society.

In the past, there have been five different categories. The divisions for this year's parade have yet to be solidified, but the float winner will still earn a spot in the Grand Parade, keeping tradition with

Once the parade is finished, there is a "Party in the Park" hosted by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC). This year they're looking to expand the party to include more schools and activities for kids. Some of the fun activities included in the party are a giant bubble foam machine, free food, and the ELC's very own book bus to give out free books. A plethora of community agencies will also be there to hand out resources, host little games,

"I have been involved with this parade since my children were at Stewart Elementary, and I'm very excited to be involved in the strategic planning of this long-standing event through the ELC,"

When asked about future plans for the Children's Parade, Gus discussed having older, middle school-aged children get involved in growing the parade even larger. He also toyed with the idea of having a float from the Grand Parade join in as a non-judged float

As an organization whose primary focus is children, the Hernando de Soto Historical Society has helped many locally in need. They recently hosted a toy drive that benefitted 30 families this past December. What made the drive extra special was how they went out to deliver the toys on their enormous pirate ship, a staple in the Grand Parade. They've partnered with The Vision Foundation, Adopt-A-Family, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT), Kiwanis Kids Against Hunger, who provide 15,000 meals each year, and Dive Into Reading with Anna Maria Oyster Bar.

While the Society mainly provides grants to these organizations, they'll also provide the staffing. For Dive Into Reading, volunteers will help children in the summer school programs develop their reading skills. They'll also provide volunteers to help run PACE Center for Girls' Lucky Duck race.

A new nonprofit organization, Beds for Kids, has been a beneficiary of the Society's fundraising. It was started by a Manatee County Sheriff's Department officer. When the sheriff's department goes into a home and notices a child who does not have an adequate sleep space, they'll provide beds, sheets, and pillows for those kids.

"It's heartbreaking to know there is so much need in our community," says Gus.

Another large part of the Hernando de Soto Historical Society's mission is preservation. According to Gus, the ten-year plan is to build and replicate the headquarters space they used to have in Downtown Bradenton to use as a museum display area for their historical artifacts. Their website description of "Conquistador Square," the new space, talks about "a place where future generations can visit so that they never forget the past." Other benefits to this space will be the ability to hold weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and any other special event.

"Kids are a big part of what we want to include in this," Gus says, referring to the future generations being able to observe and study the history they have preserved all these years. "Preserving our history ties in with our future goals. These

artifacts have been saved for a reason, and we want to continue doing what we're doing."

Gus credits ELC and CEO Darrell King for their involvement and how integral they have been in current and future endeavors. "ELC have been an amazing part of that. Especially Darrell, who has been amazing as far as what his future goals are in the partnership with us. It has been beyond what we expected and hoped to do."

' Talent Got

2023 DESOTO CHILDREN'S PARADE & ELC PARTY IN THE PARK

Friday, April 7th, 2023 10:00am Palmetto's 10th Street/Sutton Park

FEATURING:

Community Agencies offering FREE Resources & Information for Parents, Games for Kids, FREE Books, Face Painting, Arts & Crafts & MORE!

SHOWCASE YOUR: Clubs, Sports Teams

Cheer Program, Dance Group

Art/Drama Program, Musical Group or other special talent!

The first 10 parade entries will receive a $500 stipend to help with float supplies and building materials!

For more Information: Call (941) 757-2909 or visit www.desotohq.com

Winter Wonder er

Women's Collective

PICTURES: Wendy Dewhurst

ACTIVATE ACCESS SOCIAL CAPITAL to

WORDS: Anne Carter

"There is nothing quite like the feeling when you've taken a risk, and it exceeds your expectations," says Ashley Brown, CEO of the Women's Resource Center. "Shifting how we deliver our fundraising events to incorporate more of a programmatic element felt precarious for various reasons. However, focusing on awareness and access felt authentic to our organization."

Women's Resource Center launched the Collective, a yearly event series, in 2020 during the pandemic when in-person events were not possible. While the initial concept was created to adapt to the traditional fundraiser, the Collective has grown exponentially. The Collective aims to create an inclusive space for women to connect, engage and learn.

The Women's Resource Center has always been an excellent connecter for women in our community. Our events expand on that mission by providing a space for women to come together to share experiences, exchange information, and make careerchanging connections. Our goal is to create an environment where individuals can support a good cause and provide an opportunity to learn, grow and make connections in our community.

Our most recent event, held December 1st in Lakewood Ranch, focused on an issue top of mind at our organization: access. Titled "Helping Others to Activate Access to Social Capital," the event featured TEDx speaker and CEO of Results 1st, Robyn Faucy. "So often, the burden to develop social capital is placed on the person who lacks this vital resource. What if we worked together to help others activate their access to social capital?" says Faucy. Robyn helped attendees not only understand the value of their own social capital and how to use it but provided actionable approaches we can take to help others increase their social capital. As women, we naturally look to support others, so why not use that intentionality to help other women within our community?

During the registration process, we surveyed attendees to understand their goals and expectations for the event. When asked what they hoped to gain from the event, many reported that they wanted to create new connections, explore potential partnerships, and expand networking skills as their top drivers.

We all have social capital, whether it's whom you know, your ease of access to resources, or how quickly you can connect to a solution. Robyn shared ways to increase your social capital, but more importantly, encouraged the audience to help create access for others by offering up their social capital. Something as simple as making an introduction can have a significant impact on someone's life.

The Women's Resource Center continues to reinvent how we present our fundraising events, where delivering on our mission plays an essential role. After the launch of the Collective, it felt like we were on to something. We continue to move away from the traditional luncheon/gala format and are embracing an interactive concept in which participants can easily connect and engage. We create spaces where women can come together to share ideas and concerns—and a place where they can find encouragement and learn from one another. The diverse mix of participants makes these sessions invaluable. Our groups are comprised of donors, community members, WRC clients, and staff. We're breaking down barriers and sharing our message in a new way.

The Women's Resource Center will always remain a "great connector" in our community. Whether it's the programs we offer, the events we host, or the team we build, our mission is to provide access and help the women in our community thrive.

Our events in 2023 will be no different, covering topics such as Leading with Empathy, Building Financial Assets, Establishing Health Boundaries, and so much more. We hope you'll join us at our next Wonder Women Collective!

• Visit mywrc.org to learn more.

SPECTRUM INTERNET® ASSIST

Spectrum Internet Assist is a low-cost, high-speed broadband service that provides qualifying households with Internet service for $17.99 per month.

To qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist, a member of the household must be a recipient of one of the following programs:

• The National School Lunch Program (NSLP); free or reduced-cost lunch

• The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the NSLP

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (age 65 and over only) Programs that do not qualify for Spectrum Internet Assist: Social Security Disability (SSD), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Social Security Retirement and Survivor Benefits are different from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and do NOT meet eligibility requirements.

If you believe you may qualify, visit SpectrumInternetAssist.com.

• Enter in your 5-digit ZIP code to see if Spectrum Internet Assist is available in your area.

• If available, you will receive direction to call 1-844-525-1574 to start the qualification process.

• If Spectrum Internet Assist is not available in your area, you will receive a coming-soon message and be asked to check back for updates.

GET CONNECTED WITH HIGH-SPEED INTERNET FOR $17.99/MO

Spectrum Internet Assist gives your household a reliable, blazing-fast connection to the world of information, education, entertainment and services that are available online.

With Spectrum Internet Assist, you’ll enjoy:

• 30 Mbps of Internet speed with NO data caps

• FREE Internet modem

• No contracts, ever

• Add fast in-home WiFi for $5 more a month

STAGE SKILLS TEACH LIFE SKILLS

At the Manatee Performing Arts Center, we believe every student, regardless of age or experience, deserves the opportunity to participate in musical theater and discover their creative potential.

Our program offers training in:

• Dance

• Singing

• Musical Theatre performance

• Acting & stage direction

• Public speaking Programs are led by professional directors and artists.

Don’t let your student miss out on developing self-confidence, personal life skills, and make new friends. Scholarships are available. Production Camps available Spring & Summer. Learn more about all of our events and programs at ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com or (941) 748-5875

Program Location:

Manatee Performing Arts Center

502 Third Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205

Turning Down the Volume…

WORDS: Christa Hardin

Have you noticed how you and your kids are getting busier these days? If so, you're not alone. Studies tell us that more than half of parents report being too busy to enjoy the fun of parenting. As it turns out, 82% of parents polled have had their children complain about not spending enough quality time with their parents.

Studies conducted by OnePoll, in conjunction with the Crayola Experience, also discovered that parents aren't the only ones feeling like they're missing out on time with their family, with a

quarter (25%) of kids complaining about the very same thing.

You certainly aren't to be shamed for being part of this cultural phenomenon of busyness - getting swept up is the norm.

However, now that you realize something is wrong with not having enough connecting time together as a family, it's time to stop being victim to this tendency. Perhaps you can't change it today, but your schedule at home can be tweaked each semester so you can evaluate what is best and healthy as you come upon it.

By the way, don't look at other families when you assess what's needed in your unique family.

Every family will differ in terms of what they can afford with their family life - some will have parents or students who need more activity than others to thrive and avoid dysregulation. Both parents and children feel very satisfied and competent with that. Other families will have kids asking for more than their parents can deliver or parents asking kids who need a bit more rest to push too hard.

Most families, per the statistics above, will need to slow down a bit. Thus, the most important thing you can do is chat about and assess your family's needs together. It's important that everyone give one another grace and a voice in these conversations.

Ask one another questions with curiosity, compassion, and in a non-condemning style. If you have a spouse or another adult in your life, such as a parent or grandparent, who helps with scheduling, make sure to include them in this conversation.

Here are some questions to discuss together:

• How are you feeling about the amount of time we're spending together this semester as a family, one on one, and in our rest time?

• What would you like to see changed in our schedules as we tweak?

• What is one thing we can do to shift our schedules? How will we work as a team to implement this and bring balance? For example, if one person has extra energy and wants more activities, they may take on extra chores to help assist in another area.

Make sure you write the best ideas down on the calendar, so action and rest are implemented regularly.

As you consider everyone's ideas, try to recognize each voice without overly catering to one or the other. However, make sure you, as parents, can still spend quality time with each other or with other adults getting self-care so the kids' schedules don't take over.

Whatever else your conversation delivers you in terms of healthy shifts, here are six strategies for staying connected in busy times.

Six Tips for Balancing Your Family's Social Life

1. Be present. In "The ONE Thing," authors Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan remind us that multi-tasking is a myth and that often we miss quality time with others because we are not able to truly focus or turn towards one another with our full attention, the latter of which is the most important aspect of love.

2. Make sure to try to commit minimally to one night a week at home during the week and one night on the weekend. This has been so healthy for my own busy family, with many

activities between each. We need one night a week for our teens and elementary-aged child to decompress, and the parents need it too. If something comes up that night, it is generally an easy "no."

3. Money is an important factor in all you commit to, and make sure you're not overworking to provide rec events. What events can you provide that will be the most cost-efficient, so you're not moving too fast as a parent? Can your teen get a part-time job for 5-10 hours a week to add to their activity fund?

4. Make sure everyone in the family understands that families are teams, and everyone plays their part, from the moment they are born, learning to eat, raise their heads, and later learn and do chores too. See to it that everyone puts effort in.

5. Make sure everyone is given permission to balance in a daily quiet time for reflection and light fitness.

6. Make sure every voice is heard, from child to adult, and let the adults have the final say on how the schedule works. Before long, your kids will rise as adults with full agency, and they need to see your loving but strong example of giving well and good boundaries so they can do likewise.

As you set these conversations and boundaries, your connections will deepen, and you can show others what you're learning about living life with healthy intention and action.

Put A StAmP On VAlentine’S DAy…

It is hard to believe that we are past the first of the year, and February is already here. Time certainly does fly when we are getting through the day-to-day work week, and our children are busy with homework, after-school activities, and sports.

Now that we are heading into the final stretch before Spring Break, it is a perfect opportunity to slow down for a moment and create a family-fun activity together.

One thing that I have always wanted to work on with my children is making homemade stamps out of fuzzy sticks. These craft supplies are an easy material to mold and can be shaped into all sorts of fun shapes. Since hearts represent Valentine's, I thought this would be a great stamp to design unique cards.

This activity is very easy to put together, plus is great for encouraging hand-eye coordination and creativity in children of all ages. If you would like to recreate this with your child, you will need the following:

- Sheets of Construction Paper

- Non-Toxic Acrylic Paint in Red, Pink, Purple, and White

- Fuzzy Sticks, AKA pipe cleaners

- Crayons

- Paper plates

- Safety scissors

- Paper towels

Tip: Most of these items can be found around your home or purchased from a dollar or craft store.

DIRECTIONS:

First, have your child pick out the colors of construction paper they would like to use. Together, my daughter and I selected pink, purple, and white. We also decided she would make cards and decorate a sheet of paper.

Then, it is time to make the stamps out of the fuzzy sticks. To make a

heart, simply loop the fuzzy stick onto itself and twist.

Tip: I happened to have white fuzzy sticks on hand, which made it easier to see the paint on the stamp. However, any color of fuzzy stick would work for this project.

Once you have shaped the heart, make sure the leftover fuzzy stick is sitting straight above the heart so it can be used as a dipper into the paint.

We ended up making a variety of big hearts, medium hearts, and little heart stamps to go into the different colors of the paint.

To make the cards, use safety scissors to cut the construction paper into fourths. Fold the paper in half twice to make it easier to cut into the four pieces.

After my daughter cut out her cards, she then took crayons and wrote "Happy Valentine's Day" on the front. She could then address the cards with "To" and "From" on the back. After that, it was time to start stamping.

Tip: Be sure to protect your child's clothing with an oversized shirt or an apron. In addition, protect your surfaces with either paper towels or newspaper. The paper towels will also come in handy to wipe off any paint on your child's hands from pressing down the stamps.

As you begin to stamp, be sure to squeeze the acrylic paints onto separate paper plates and wipe the heart shape into the color to cover the surface of the fuzzy stick.

My daughter then pushed the hearts down with her fingers onto the construction paper to apply a good amount of paint. She also used different hearts and colors to make varying designs on the cards and the construction paper.

All of her stamped cards turned out great, and each one was a "one of a kind". They all became beautiful pieces of Valentine's Day Artwork.

I hope that you and your family also enjoy putting this activity together and have a wonderful holiday!

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.

TheSuperintendentshallappointacomplianceofficerwhoseresponsibilityitwillbetorequirethatFederalandStateregulationsarecompliedwithandthatanyinquiresorcomplaintsaredealtwithpromptlyinaccordancewithlaw.S/HeshallalsorequirethatpropernoticeofnondiscriminationforTitleII,Title VI,andTitleVIIoftheCivilRightsActof1964,TitleIXoftheEducationAmendmentActof1972,Section504oftheRehabilitationActof1973,andtheAgeDiscriminationinEmploymentActwillbeprovidedtostaffmembersandthegeneralpublic.AnysectionsoftheDistrict’scollectively-bargainednegotiated

Volunteering doesn't just help others. It improves your organization! Employees who volunteer and feel good about where they work tend to:

• Take pride in their company

• Learn better critical thinking skills

• Enhance problem-solving skills

So, if you want a purpose-driven and engaged workforce, consider your staff for volunteering for ReadingPals!

In just 60 minutes, you can make a difference in the life of a child. In 2022:

• 50% of children in Florida are NOT ready for Kindergarten

• 47% of students cannot read at a minimally proficient level by the end of 3rd grade

• Early intervention and individualized attention give students the best likelihood of success

In ReadingPals, you will mentor VPK (4-year-old) students at local child care sites to positively influence students' understanding of the fundamental building blocks of early literacy. These relationships that the mentors build with the students enhance a solid social-emotional foundation for young learners.

E EMPLOYERS, Did You Know?

COMMUNITY MEMBERS, Did You Know?

Remake Learning Days!

WORDS: Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

Suncoast Remake Learning Days is a 10-day festival that celebrates the many learning opportunities in our community. This celebration highlights innovative experiences and opportunities for youth and participants of all ages to develop their sense of creativity, perseverance, and curiosity.

Establishments, including schools, museums, libraries, after-school organizations, early child care centers, colleges, universities, media centers, faithbased organizations, businesses, tech startups, and other entities, will open their doors to welcome families. Operations will also travel into neighborhoods to host hands-on, engaging educational experiences for pre-K through high school youth and their families, caregivers, and educators. These events are free and open to all!

All Suncoast Remake Learning Days events will follow the CDC COVID guidelines. Inperson Suncoast Remake Learning Days events may be canceled or moved to a virtual platform if the community positivity rate warrants.

Suncoast Remake Learning Days events are organized by different learning themes such as arts, maker, outdoor learning, science, technology, and youth voice. In addition, there are professional development sessions for school, outof-school, childcare, and non-traditional educators. Events can fall under one or more learning themes, and each event's learning themes will be identified by the icons below:

Arts – Arts features hands-on learning and expression through theatre, dance, visual art, music, photography, and other creative outlets.

Maker – Making is about taking things apart and putting them back together. Tinker, build and create with all kinds of materials. Try a 3D printer, take apart a toy to see inside and then rebuild it, or create a marshmallow tower!

Outdoor Learning – Outdoor Learning is about experiencing and learning about the natural world. How can we think about the environment, sustainability, and more by exploring our very own backyards?

Science – Science is all about experimentation! How does our world work? What can we test and discover in the world around us? Participants will have the opportunity to explore chemistry, biology, geography, and other sciences.

Technology – Technology gives kids a chance to investigate their digital world. Want to try coding? Build robots? Learn circuitry? Look for technology events that help you discover new things.

Youth Voice – Youth voice-related events highlight how youth express themselves in their own ways through audio, video, art, music, and other outlets.

Professional Development –

For traditional and non-traditional educators, credited and noncredited professional development featuring STEAM-inspired learning is offered by various organizations.

Why are The Patterson Foundation and the Suncoast Campaign for GradeLevel Reading sponsoring Suncoast Remake Learning Days?

The Patterson Foundation works with people, businesses, nonprofits,

government, and the media to catalyze efforts toward shared aspirations through five key actions: Connecting

→ Learning → Sharing → Evolving

→ Strengthening. Remake Learning Days provide an opportunity for wide community participation and strong family engagement across five sectors to work toward the greater good of strengthening our learning ecosystem.

How can an individual or organization become involved in the 2023 Suncoast Remake Learning Days?

Individuals, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to get involved! There are numerous ways to participate, from promoting events to customers and employees to partnering on specific events to hosting an event of your own.

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will host numerous webversations about the 2023 Suncoast Remake Learning Days, sharing information on social

media through electronic newsletters and reaching out to community members. To become part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days, an individual or organization should indicate their interest by filling out the form attached to this QR code. A Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Engagement Team member will reach out to assist.

StA Nd

For

Children Day

2nd AnnuAl Luncheon

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Bradenton Area Convention Center 11:30 am-1:00 pm

BEnEFITInG:

Stand For Children Day, celebrated on June 1st, raises awareness of critical issues faced by many children in the U.S., including quality education and child care, access to health insurance and medical services, appropriate public school and program funding, and teacher education.

Are you motivated to make a difference for the children of tomorrow? Now is the time to raise your voice!

presenTing sponsor:

www.elc-manatee.org/StandforChildren

WORDS: Sheri Roca

PICTURES: Gabrielle Versmessen

New Foundation is swinging for the fences...

Coach Logan Wells is more than simply a coach. He has made it his mission to give young athletes a chance to play baseball or even go on to college when they may not otherwise have the means to do so. During his five years as a coach of a Florida Travel Baseball team, three of those years have been at the high school level. During that time, 25 players have gone on to play college ball. Seven kids received college scholarships who may not otherwise have had the resources to make that happen.

In the past five years, while coaching travel baseball, it became evident to Coach

Logan that many talented kids didn't have the opportunities offered by travel ball because they didn't have the finances needed. Since then, he has tried to help as many kids as possible who wanted to play travel ball in any way he could, including paying many out-of-pocket expenses. Now, Logan has established the Coach Logan Wells Foundation. Through the Foundation, he will be able to offer even more gifted players opportunities that could change their lives.

Logan appreciates just how blessed he is to have the support of other local heroes. "Without Darrell King, the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, and NEXTGEN Magazine, I am not sure the Foundation would be possible," says

Logan. "Words can't speak highly enough of Darrell and his family. He makes it all extremely easy, and really helped us get off the ground."

According to Darrell: "Logan's mission to give all children in Manatee County an opportunity to enjoy baseball and maybe even go on to be successful is something the ELC is delighted to support. His events also allow us to share information with families about our services and programs, distribute books, and let our communities know that ELC is here to help. We are proud to support Logan's foundation and many similar local organizations with children's best interests at heart."

A native to the area, Logan played ball for Hillsborough Community College. Still, his baseball career really began at Palmetto High School, where he earned all-area, allcounty, and all-state honorable mentions

until he graduated in 2005. While he has been coaching travel baseball and is the founder of FTB Pros, a division of FTB (Florida Travel Baseball), he joined the coaching team at Eckerd College in the fall of 2021. Off the field, Logan is the

owner of Linked Junction, a nationally known social media management and marketing company.

Travel baseball offers many advantages to young players and is typically viewed as a transition between Little League and high school or college baseball. Generally, travel ball is much more competitive, while Little League teams are considered recreational baseball. One of the most significant benefits of youth travel baseball is the possibility of exposure. Getting yourself in front of the right people has the potential to give a child's baseball career a big boost and can offer many long-term advantages. Travel team coaches, like Coach Logan, are typically more skilled and experienced than coaches in the recreational leagues and may have strong network connections in baseball. A coach with connections to athletes and teams can build a player's skills and connect the player to other teams and opportunities. Because Logan is also coaching at Eckerd College, his travel team is able to practice on the college campus, which is another fantastic opportunity to be seen and make the kind of connections that can make dreams come true. However, playing on a travel team requires a substantial monetary and time commitment and is not attainable for many families of talented young players. The typical range of cost for participating in travel baseball is between $1500 and $3000 per year, and you can certainly spend much more

than that when you add in the costs of equipment and the cost of travel itself. These kids do a lot of fundraising to circumvent some expenses, but this is where the Coach Logan Wells Foundation can make such a difference. Through charitable donations and sponsorships, the Foundation can now make it possible for even more talented young athletes to have the same opportunities as travel team players.

"The Foundation's slogan is, 'I am change.' But the 'I' is not just referring to me," Logan explains. "It is me and all that I come into contact with. We all collectively become part of the change in the community, sports, and life in general."

Coach Logan, along with his team of coaches, Reggie Simmons, Adam Levins, a former player for Wells, Frank Ose, Cody Gelwick, and Brandon Grigsby, are working on teaching players not just baseball skills but the character skills necessary to be better teammates. Skills that will serve them through life as mentors and leaders in the community.

They are currently coaching 16U and 18U teams, but as of January 1st, 2023, he will also be offering the same opportunities at the 9U level through FTB Pro Futures, sponsored by NEXTGEN Magazine. Coach Logan is very excited about the new prospects, stating: "Now, not only can we impact older groups, but we can help the younger kids too."

Coach Logan and his team are always looking for talent. "I want to work with good kids, good characters, who are hardworking and want to be here," says Wells. "I don't turn any kids away, but you must show me dedication and have some skin in the game. If you don't have the heart and don't want to work hard, it probably won't work out," he elaborates.

The Coach Logan Wells Foundation, in partnership with NEXTGEN Magazine and the ELC of Manatee County, hosted a free Kids Baseball Camp in November at Buffalo Creek fields. It was an incredible opportunity for Manatee County kids to learn and develop their skills with the help of some of the local greats in baseball, including several former MLB and NCAA players, coaches, and high school coaches.

These included Scooter Gennett, Andy LaRoche, Joe Ayrault, Tyler Cox, Billy Bullock, Victor Martinez, Jacob Green, Mason Page, Kevin Leon, and Casey Lockwood. A number of professional players also donated items for the raffle. All proceeds from raffles and other fundraising went to local Little League teams. The camp was such a huge success with a big turn-out, that Coach Logan hopes to host many events like this in the future. He said: “It showed me how many kids want to come out. There was no cost for them,

and it’s something we want to do more of.”

Logan is not blind to the fact that it has greatly helped his mission to have a name recognized in Manatee County, forged by the hard work and dedication of the Wells family over the years. In fact, you may recognize the name Wells. His father, Charlie Wells, was the former Sheriff of Manatee County for 22 years, while his mom Leslie Wells is a successful Realtor and owns Leslie Wells Realty. His brother Ricky Wells is the current Sheriff of Manatee County.

"As they say, it's not just what you know, but whom you know. I know that I could not have been as successful if not for the support of my family and the recognition of my family name," observes Logan. He emphasizes a special "thank you" for his entire family's love and support over the years, especially his wife, Ashley, and two young children, Gavin and Sienna.

With the Foundation now up and running, Coach Logan’s latest venture is a new batting and practice facility – named The Spot - that he has just opened in the Colonial Center on US 301 in Palmetto. He will be able to offer private lessons, group lessons, host community events and run free Foundation camps from this new venue.

A Family Tradition SINCE 1926