Sarasota Back to School 2024 by The Observer Group Inc.

Back to School 2024

SARASOTA

7218 55th Ave. East Bradenton, FL 34203

941.200.4250

7218 55th Ave. East Bradenton, FL 34203

INFANTS - PRESCHOOL

We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age. INFANTS - PRESCHOOL

VPK

Our VPK and Frogstreet curriculum will prepare your child with the skills needed for success! Our teachers provide your child with an active & engaging curriculum each day! Child must turn 4 before 9/1/24. Classes start August 12! AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

After Care School programs for grades K-6.

We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal).

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2024 941.200.4250

Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed class for your child.

JR VPK

INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.

INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK

We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.

VPK

We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.

VPK

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

After Care School programs for grades K-6. We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal).

INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK

After Care School programs for grades K-6. We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal).

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS

SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)

Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed class for your child.

Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday

Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed class for your child.

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS

After Care School programs for grades K-6. We will drop your child off to their school & pick them up after school (including early dismissal).

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS

Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday

10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips

Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday

SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)

SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2024

Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday

3 meals provided

SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)

SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2024

10 week camp with a different theme each week

SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2024

Field Trips

PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM

10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips 3 meals provided

Field Trips

3 meals provided

10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

3 meals provided

PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM

EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENTS CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS PROCARE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT APP

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

CONTACTLESS, SECURE CHECK-IN/OUT

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

PROCARE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT APP

PROCARE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT APP CONTACTLESS,

PROCARE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT APP

SMART INVOICING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN

EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENTS

CONTACTLESS, SECURE CHECK-IN/OUT

EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENTS CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS

COMMERCIAL KITCHEN

SMART INVOICING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN

EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENTS CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS

SMART INVOICING COMMERCIAL KITCHEN

CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS

SMART INVOICING

DR. ROGER CLOUGH, owner of Discovery Point Twelve Oaks, has a degree in Early Education/Reading/Early Childhood and a Doctorate of Education. With over 28 years of experience, Dr. Clough’s passion for early education and child development makes Discovery Point Twelve Oaks stand out from the rest!

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR LIZ RAMOS

Growing up, the first day of school was always a big deal in my family.

My parents made sure my brothers and I were ready. Our backpacks were filled with all the school supplies we needed. One strong gust of wind, and I’m sure I would have fallen over because my backpack was so heavy.

I had my first-day outfit and my hair was probably the nicest it was going to look all year besides picture day. Anyone with curly hair knows that’s not an easy feat.

As the years went on, every first day came with mixed emotions depending on the grade.

I remember being terrified to take the bus for the first time as I entered middle school.

I remember being furious at my brother who made us miss the bus on the first day of freshman year of high school because he swore we had more time to get to the bus stop.

I remember the excitement of driving to school on my final first day of high school as a senior.

But no matter the emotions, my mom made sure my brothers and I had our firstday picture. Each of us stood with our backpacks on in front of the front door to the house. No matter the emotion — excitement to see friends after summer or annoyance of having to take the photo even at 17 years old or a mix of both — we smiled at the camera for our mom.

The first day of school, no

matter the grade, marks a brand new year. A new year for new adventures, successes and, yes, sometimes failures.

Sarasota County Schools has a lot to look forward to in the 2024-2025 school year.

The 1-mill property tax referendum is back on the ballot in November (Page 6).

The referendum funds teacher salaries, STEM programs, arts programs, school security and more. Make sure you go cast your vote and make your voice heard.

A new high school in Wellen Park and a new K-8 school for the Skye Ranch area are being constructed (Page 12).

The Farm, a 40-acre property at McIntosh Middle School, is undergoing renovations so students can raise animals to show at the Sarasota County Fair (Page 16). The Farm will help introduce more students who are becoming interested in agriculture to FFA and 4-H.

But what I look forward to most every school year is seeing all that our Sarasota County students are able to accomplish. I’m always amazed by the visual and performing arts displays and performances. I cheer for our athletes as they take the field.

I’m in awe at what students create in Technology Student Association or how they are able to care for animals in preparation to show off their hard work at the Sarasota County Fair in March.

It’s these stories that make me thrilled for the first day of school to come around.

So enjoy the last few weeks of summer, but get ready.

The start of the 2024-2025 school year is almost here, and I, for one, can’t wait.

Take advantage of the first day of school for the memory that it is and smile big.

It’s a new year. A clean slate. Make the most of it and start off strong.

LIZ RAMOS SENIOR EDITOR

We Take Your Child’s Vision Seriously

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Investing in education

Voters will have the chance to decide on a property tax extension responsible for funding career pathways, teacher retention, student achievement and more.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Voters will return to the polls in November to determine whether a 1-mill property tax referendum for Sarasota County Schools should be renewed. The referendum was last renewed in 2022. Despite taking effect in 2026, it appears on 2024’s ballot due to recent legislation requiring all referendums appear on a general election ballot.

If approved, the extension would continue levying a 1 mill per year property tax, equivalent to $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, from 2026 to 2030. Terry Connor, the superintendent of Sarasota County Schools, said the referendum is about 20% of the district’s operating budget. The district’s total budget is $1.5 billion. In 2023-2024, the district collected approxi-

mately $83 million through the referendum.

“It’s a significant portion of what we do every day, and without it, it would create havoc in the school district,”

Connor said. “I know it’s supplemental, but at the end of the day, it is what separates us and makes us great. It’s why we’ve been an ‘A’ school district since grading started in 2002.”

Connor said the referendum has been a major contributor of funding for a variety of programming and other needs.

Connor said this time around, the district is increasing its focus on career pathways, including in STEM fields, to meet the demand and needs of the community.

OPENING NEW PATHWAYS

The district offers a variety of career pathways supported by the referendum, one being the Construction Technology Pro-

AVERAGE ANNUAL SPENDING FOR THE 2026-2030 REFERENDUM

$28 million: Attracting and investing in highquality educators

Priorities: Competitive salary enhancements, recruitment and retention, extended school day

$17 million: Workforce education and training

Priorities: Career and technical education, career exploration pathways, internships/ apprenticeships, career advisor

$14 million: Safe and supportive schools

Priorities: Security aides, school counselors, behavior specialists, additional administrative staff

$28 million: Enriching learning experiences

gram established at Riverview High School in 2022.

Jeff Lahdenpera, a teacher in the program and a veteran of the construction industry, said one of the industry’s major struggles is finding qualified individuals to hire.

“I know I’m a different generation, but during my time in school, we had all these courses, and then as my kids grew up, they disappeared,” he said. “So bringing it back, especially in this area, the construction industry here in Florida, it’s needed.”

producing program in terms of dual enrollment students, and the nearby Suncoast Polytechnical High School, which relies on referendum dollars for needs including robotics, digital design and advanced computers.

The referendum funding also has been put toward supporting arts programming.

For instance, Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Program, an arts-related magnet program in the district, offers opportunities not limited to music, dance and film and animation.

“Those enriching learning experiences are vital, and we want to continue to support the arts, music, theater, all of those great programs,” Connor said.

SUPPORTING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT

Another major focus of referendum dollars is supporting teachers and addressing the ongoing national teacher shortage.

Priorities: Pre-K/early learning programs, art and music teachers, media center aides, accelerated coursework, STEM

$33 million: Promoting student success

Priorities: Literacy coaches and intervention teachers, English language learner support, elementary enrichment science teachers, data coaches, summer learning academies, school choice offerings

Visit SarasotaCountySchools.net.

Connor hopes the district will further develop workforce education.

This might mean offering more dual enrollment courses or new and different programs in areas like construction, health care, business, IT, advanced manufacturing and hospitality services.

Career advisors would also be included in the funding.

Other current programs include an automotive program at Suncoast Technical College, the district’s highest-

One way this would be achieved is offering salary enhancements designed to be competitive with surrounding school districts.

“When teachers feel they’re able to grow in their profession, they’re more apt to stay with you, and so we want teachers to feel like they, and our staff, have the ability to grow and learn,” Connor said. “Providing that opportunity is a portion of (remaining competitive).”

The referendum also supports security within the district, funding positions like school resource officers and security aides in middle and high schools.

Funds support media aides to maintain and curate school libraries and provide student activities, as well as the certified media specialists who oversee their roles.

The referendum will support a literacy intervention program created by the district that will incorporate new strategies and offer additional supports to teachers.

Programs like this, which can enhance student achievement, will be a crucial use of the funds, Connor said.

Funds will continue to support an additional 30 minutes for each school day.

Photos by Ian Swaby

Gail Bowers, a kindergarten teacher at Fruitville Elementary, works with student Marina Prybylski.

A student works on an engineering project.

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TERRY CONNOR

As we approach the start of the 20242025 school year, I cannot help but reflect on all the growth Sarasota County Schools has experienced this past school year. When I began my tenure as superintendent last year, I felt it was important to take time, listen and reflect on the needs, successes and challenges our school communities experience every day. We conducted

many listening tours, meetings and focus groups to establish a clear foundation on which to build. Pouring over this trove of insights gave me a deeper understanding of how our collective efforts and focus could take Sarasota County Schools to its next level of achievement, and beyond.

As a district, we strategically realigned our administrative structure at both the district and school levels to clearly define expectations and establish pathways of shared communication and growth. We audited existing systems — both academic and operational alike — to better serve the changing needs of our school communities. From implementing our core instructional vision — the four principles of excellent instruction — to expanding our efforts with recruiting, training, retaining and recognizing our talented workforce and everything in between, it

has taken the efforts of each employee to position the district in its current foothold of strength. I am incredibly proud of the dedication of each administrator, teacher and staff member who wholeheartedly served our students and families this year.

The School Board of Sarasota County recently approved the district’s updated strategic plan, Every Opportunity 2030, and we are already putting the plan into action. This plan is broad enough to grow and change with the needs of our district as time goes on, yet tailored enough to yield valuable data and actionable insights that will continue to drive the success of our students and schools. I encourage everyone in our extended school district family and the community at large to look over the plan.

Our school district values collaboration, integrity, excellence, focus and tenacity.

These values are woven into each facet of Every Opportunity 2030. Our five pillars — every student achieves, every student supported, every employee valued, every school equipped and every community engaged — will be the framework for our four main areas of focus: Literacy for all, ensuring every student develops the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills essential for academic success and informed citizenship; Robust pathways, creating various educational pathways that cater to varying interests and prepare students for higher education and relevant career success; Safe schools, providing a secure and nurturing environment where students can learn and grow free from physical and emotional harm; and student support services, offering comprehensive services to support students’ needs, fostering an environment where

every student can thrive. If this six-year plan reads as ambitious, that’s because it is. Our schools, and the students housed within them, deserve our maximum effort and support. When we say we draw inspiration from the words “every student, every day” we mean it. Our students and families have chosen to make Sarasota County their educational home, and it is our shared responsibility as a school district and broader community to ensure that we exceed their expectations. The care and effort we put towards educational excellence today will garner transformative results for our young people, lasting generations. I wish all a restful summer break and look forward to a strong start next school year!

TERRY CONNOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOLS

SCHOOL YEAR AT A GLANCE

2024-2025 Sarasota County Schools key dates

AUGUST 2024

■ 12 First day of classes

SEPTEMBER 2024

■ 2 Labor Day; no classes, all district sites closed

OCTOBER 2024

■ 2-4 Rosh Hashanah

■ 11-12 Yom Kippur

■ 17 End of first grading period

■ 18 Professional Day; no classes

NOVEMBER 2024

■ 25-29 Thanksgiving break; no classes

■ 28-29 Thanksgiving break; all district sites closed

DECEMBER 2024

■ 20 End of second grading period

■ 23-31 Winter Break; no classes, all district sites closed

■ 25-31 Hanukkah

JANUARY 2025

■ 1-2 Hanukkah

■ 1-3 Winter Break; no classes, all district sites closed

■ 6 Professional Day; no classes

■ 7 Students return

■ 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes, all district sites closed

FEBRUARY 2025

■ 17 Presidents Day; no classes, all district sites closed

MARCH 2025

■ 13 End of third grading period

■ 14 Professional Day; no classes

■ 17-21 Spring Break; no classes, all district sites closed

APRIL 2025

■ 12-20 Passover

■ 18 Mini Break; no classes

MAY 2025

■ 26 Memorial Day; no classes, all district sites closed

■ 28 Final day for students

New schools and renovations in progress

Sarasota County Schools is building two new schools, in addition to pursuing school facility replacements and renovations.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

As students return to school this year, Sarasota County is building out its infrastructure in anticipation of future growth. At the same time, it’s also revisiting older schools, repairing the facilities or bringing them up to date. Here are some of the district’s ongoing construction projects:

NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WELLEN PARK

This high school is the district’s first new high school since North Port High was built in 2001.

Features of the school will include an auditorium, media center, gymnasium, cafeteria and athletic facilities such as an area for sand volleyball that will serve a new districtwide volleyball program.

The facility is introducing a new cooling technology for the district, a water tower storing nearly a million gallons.

Budget: $200 million

Size: 363,600 gross square feet

Student stations: 2,070

Completion date: August 2026

NEW K-8 SCHOOL IN CENTRAL COUNTY

Serving the area of Skye Ranch,

Wherever

this project will be the district’s first K-8 school as well as a STEM-focused school.

Its interior facilities will include art and music suites, a P.E. area, a gymnasium, a media

go...

center, a dining and multipurpose area, a robotics lab and engineering classrooms. Its exterior facilities will include a running track, play fields, tennis and basketball courts and

playgrounds.

Jane Dreger, director of construction services for Sarasota County Schools, said the infrastructure of the school is deliberately oversized, with more room being constructed than necessary.

Budget: $103.6 million

Size: 223,000 gross square feet

Student stations: 1,541

Completion date: August 2025

RENOVATIONS TO SARASOTA HIGH SCHOOL

Two classroom buildings are undergoing a heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovation, which also involves upgrading finishes, ceilings, floors, paint, cabinets, some doors and lights.

Budget: $37.5 million

Size: 161,950 square feet

Student stations: 2,022

Courtesy image

Construction takes place on the K-8 building at Skye Ranch.

(same as prior to project)

Completion date: 2025

REPLACEMENT

GARDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

After Garden Elementary School suffered significant impacts from Hurricane Ian, the district settled on a total replacement of the building.

As of late May, the district is in the design phase, customizing a prototype to create a design for a larger facility than the original.

Budget: $80 million

Size: 100,000 square feet

Student stations: 950 (450 additional)

Completion date: In design; no date set

RENOVATIONS TO BAY HAVEN SCHOOL OF BASICS PLUS

Established in 1926, Bay Haven School of Basics Plus is being treated with special care during its renovation to maintain its historic character.

The improvements will address aging conditions in the interior, updating features

including security, air conditioning, lighting, walls and carpeting to create new spaces similar to the original ones.

Budget: $18,105,000

Size: 35,362 square feet

Student stations: 355

Completion date: August 2025

RENOVATIONS TO GOCIO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Gocio Elementary will see Building 3 replaced with a new facility.

The project also involves the replacement of a play pavilion and renovations to the school’s front office area.

This will be the district’s first project to use insulated concrete forms, a building system involving polystyrene blocks separated by plastic webbing and filled with concrete.

Budget: $25 million

Size: Approximately 20,000 square feet

Student stations: 450 (360 new)

Completion date: December 2025

Life behind the food counter

Riverview High School Food Services Manager Melissa Phillips reflects on more than 26 years serving the district.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

For many people who, at some point or another, have eaten their lunches at a local school cafeteria, Melissa Phillips is a familiar face.

“Little kids come up to you. ‘There’s my lunch lady.’ That’s the fun part, when they see you outside (school) and they realize you’re a real person,” Phillips said.

Not all students in kindergarten through 12th grade whom she has served know about her efforts behind the food counter, across her more than 26 years with the district.

When Phillips first joined Sarasota County Schools in January 1998, she was working

in a kitchen and custodial role with part-time hours, discouraged and not sure whether to continue.

Today, as the food and nutrition services manager at Riverview High School, she has the responsibility of running the show and shaping the menu.

After Phillips graduated from the district, she never left.

Initially working four-hour shifts that alternated between the kitchen and custodial work, she grew in the role over 12 to 15 years.

At first, there was little pay, but due to advice from family members, she chose to press forward.

Today, she said it’s the best decision she ever made.

“It was a little discouraging

in the beginning, but I stuck it through, and that’s what I tell people: stick through it,” she said.

She’s now responsible for managing the team at Riverview High School, producing more than 1,500 meals per day.

During lunchtime, when not serving food, she can be found on the line talking to students, making sure they’re enjoying a well-rounded selection of foods.

Her other responsibilities include producing, transporting and distributing food to Suncoast Polytechnical High School, Triad Alternative School and the Cyesis program, as well as overseeing one of the largest production kitchens in the summer meals program.

“I don’t want to go nowhere,” she said. “This is where I’m going to retire from and they’ve taken care of me.”

The entry-level wages weren’t the only obstacle Phillips encountered along the way in her career.

She also struggled with attention-deficit disorder, as well as dyslexia, the latter of which hindered her when it came to an important part of

the job: scaling up recipes.

She would take recipes home in the evenings to make the calculations, although today, computers have rendered it unnecessary for her to do so.

Although her internship for the role of food and nutrition services manager took her two years as opposed to the usual one year, she ultimately landed the role.

What’s her key to succeeding each day?

“You have to really like working with food, people and kids. Kids are your customers,” she said.

Above everything, she still finds echoes of the reason she first chose to join the district years ago. Her grandchildren, through her stepdaughter Emily Phillips, are now entering kindergarten, and she still picks them up from school after her shifts.

“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else after being here for this long,” she said. “People ask me what I want to do, if I’m going to keep going. I’m going to keep going.”

Ian Swaby

Food Services Manager Melissa Phillips

Growth for opportunities

An agricultural scene emerges in Sarasota’s schools.

Ayear ago, the agricultural area of McIntosh Middle School, which hosts its Future Farmers of America program, was only a few small rows of crops.

Now, it’s a colorful and flourishing space.

“I like coming every day in the morning, seeing when nobody’s here, when it’s just the start of school, and the birds are chirping, the plants

are rustling, you can see seeds starting to sprout and there’s a dew on everything,” said Kuba Mohrbacher, a seventh grader at McIntosh Middle School.

It’s just the type of space that agriculture instructor David Gwatney has tasked himself with bringing to Sarasota County Schools.

“We need to have places like this to inspire kids, so I’ve been building this, to try to do that,” he said.

AGRICULTURE GROWS

According to Gwatney, programs like FFA used to be more common in schools, while today, offerings in surrounding counties far exceed those of Sarasota County.

However, Farm-to-School

Coordinator Kate Traugott is optimistic about the future of agriculture in the district. One reason for her optimism is the o ngoing renovation of the 40-acre property known as The Farm at McIntosh Middle School, which is expected

to open during the 2024-2025 school year.

“I think we’re actively growing,” Traugott said. “That is a

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Ian Swaby

McIntosh Middle School students Skyler Rissler, Baylee Wallingford and Kinleigh Souders with their rabbits Marvel, Finn and Velvet.

big part of what The Farm is working on, is supporting the growth of our (agriculture) programs here in Sarasota County.”

Although the property had long been used to raise animals for showing at the Sarasota County Fair and other venues, it will now see an upgrade.

Aquarium, as well as an agricultural program at Heron Creek Middle School in North Port.

“I would think that is a combination of having the right people in the right places the environment for it, so we have really supportive leadership

school

munity service.

This, he said, is what he was hoping to accomplish with a recent program that provided fresh produce to the school cafeteria each week, including about 10 to 15 cucumbers and a gallon of cherry tomatoes.

“It’s just a beautiful thing to see the kids up there serving food that they helped grow to the other kids. It just made me so happy,” Gwatney said.

Although technical issues hampered the program this year, he hopes to resume it for the 2024-2025 school year.

Gwatney also created the space for Sarasota High School’s FFA program currently overseen by instructor Delanie Woods.

“The kids get excited about using things and being able to grow things,” Woods said. “It’s very satisfying to start a tomato plant from a seed and then go, ‘Can I eat this for one lunch?’”

In addition to raising plants and animals, other skills are

created through FFA programs, including building structures, using tools, working with irrigation and greenhouses and preparing food through means

like dehydrating and pickling.

“I think for me, I will say it’s a very big program, so it’s not just for farmers,” said Eva Hoyer, a senior at Sarasota High.

“We have so many leadership opportunities and public speaking, and just everything. Agriculture affects so much of daily life that it’s important to get a general education, even if you don’t want to be a farmer.”

The district facilitates involvement of students through 4-H, which the University of Florida administers in Sarasota County, as well.

The organization offers clubs at Booker Middle School and Community Day School Sarasota and will be introducing a club this year at Sarasota Academy of the Arts.

“It’s super exciting for the kids to see opportunities for themselves to grow their own food for themselves, to see future careers in agriculture,” said Sara Davis, a 4-H youth development extension agent with the University of Florida.

“It’s not just about owning huge tracts of land and farming. In a conventional sense, there’s a lot of different work for workforce opportunities within agriculture.”

WHAT DO STUDENTS LIKE ABOUT AGRICULTURE?

“I came here because I wanted to (raise animals). But it’s so amazing here. It’s fun and relaxing. We get to be outside instead of being on screens 24/7.”

-Emmalyn Medvecky, McIntosh Middle School FFA member, sixth grade

Ian Swaby

Kate Traugott and Tripp stand on the land that will become The Farm in December 2024.

THE SARASOTA BALLET SCHOOL

2024 - 2025 SCHOOL YEAR

Primary Levels | Ages 3 - 7 Levels 1 - 4 | Ages 8+

• All faculty are former professional dancers and experienced educators, certified to teach the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum.

• Safe and inclusive space to learn and grow as a dancer.

• Only ballet school on the Gulf Coast attached to a world-renowned, professional ballet company.

• Students are given multiple on-stage performance opportunities each year, including the School’s annual production of The Nutcracker and the Spring End-of-Year Showcase.

• Free tickets to Company performances.

Where Your Child Will Thrive

Setting your child up for a bright future starts with providing them with a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning. At Ivybrook Academy Sarasota, we take an innovative approach to preschool and are redefining how parents view early childhood education.

Word spreads on dual language

Interest grows in dual language programming within Sarasota’s school district.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

Geri Chaffee sees a cultural shift in Sarasota County Schools as the district has been taking more interest in programs like dual language.

As the founder of Dreamers Academy, a charter school in the Newtown area that introduced dual language learning in Sarasota and serves 640 students, Chaffee said there are thousands more who could benefit.

“I’m very encouraged. I think there’s a shift happening in this district. I’m very excited about it,” she said. “I like the level of accountability and innovation that I see, and it’s exciting.”

About 95% of English language-learners in Sarasota’s school district speak Spanish, which she said makes the programs fitting for many areas of the county.

INTEREST GROWS

The concept of dual language

programs has also increasingly been eyed by Sarasota’s school district.

Highlighted on the Every Student 2030 strategic plan by Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor are plans for dual language programming.

During his time with Hillsborough County, Connor facilitated the start of six dual language programs.

“We know there’s a lot of research around the power of helping students in dual language. ... To me, that’s probably my driving force,” Connor said. “Dreamers has done a great job filling that need. I also think the school district itself needs to find ways to expand dual language into other parts of our county.”

He said due to the demographics, the areas of greatest need now are North Port and South County, although there could be pockets of need in other areas.

“Cohort enrollment really drives how much you’re going to offer in the school,” he said. “It may be that it’s limited to, say, 50 kids in a cohort, or if there is demand, it could be

Ian Swaby Dreamers Academy student Emma Diaz plays with Principal Cathy Rodriguez.

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that the whole school at some point could be dual language.”

Chaffee said she’s optimistic based on the plans she has heard from the district.

“I’m excited because the district has approached us to work together, and we want this program to be available to any child that wants it, any family that wants it, but we don’t have the capacity,” Chaffee said.

The format of Dreamers Academy involves teachers collaborating in order to co-teach, alternating their instruction between English and Spanish throughout the week.

This gives children the opportunity to learn to read and write at a time in life when learning a language is easier.

“The reason it’s easier for children to learn languages is because they take linguistic risk,” said Principal Cathy Rodriguez. “Of course adults can learn other languages. However, adults are maybe conscious about their surroundings. Maybe they don’t want to take as many risks.”

Since the opening of its first exclusive campus in 2023, Dreamers Academy has also upgraded its offerings.

One example has been the establishment of a dual language library, which was made possible through a grant from Impact100 SRQ in 2024.

The space attempts to keep an equitable book selection, with half the books in English

■ Dreamers Academy is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year. Although the school is currently waitlisted, students can join anytime if selected.

■ Location: 2146 Myrtle St. Visit DreamersAcademy.org.

and the other half in Spanish.

The library is selective in what publishers it draws from.

“I’d rather have authentic Spanish language books than translations, because translations can change the whole level of a book, and sometimes translations are wrong,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve seen it over and over again.”

This year, the school also hired a full-time bilingual speech pathologist who works with children up to five times per week, a service that was found to be needed for some students.

Chaffee described the speech pathologist as “part of our culture” and as collaborating with the curriculum and staff.

From this point forward, Chaffee hopes to see dual language cohorts opened in district schools.

“I think we’ve already proven to district leadership that this is a superior instructional model that benefits all children,” she said.

Ian Swaby

Dreamers Academy has installed a dual language library.

STEM offerings increase

With opportunities in place from engineering programs to a planetarium, the district continues to grow its STEM offerings.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

For some students, gazing at the stars is a perfectly acceptable way to advance their education.

That’s due to a school district with offerings like a planetarium, not to mention a marine science facility, robotics clubs, technology career pathways and more in the realm of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

“I do feel like we have a very rich offering,” said Rachael O’Dea, deputy superintendent and chief academic officer of Sarasota County Schools.

AN OVERVIEW OF STEM

The district offers supplemental STEM activities with one example being the robotics clubs, often VEX teams.

These programs include design kits and challenges in

OPPORTUNITIES INVOLVED IN K-8 PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTE SEA

Marine Ecology Lab: Offers hands-on experiences with animal habitats and marine life. Biomedical/Immunology Lab: Investigates new medicinal compounds from the ocean and explores conservation issues. Ocean Technology Lab: Allows students to test autonomous underwater vehicles, tools and equipment.

For more info on programs in Sarasota’s school district: Visit SarasotaCountySchools.net.

elementary school, and handson experiences in secondary schools. They also involve participation in competitions.

The Technology Student Association at McIntosh Middle School was an exciting opportunity for Kuba Mohrbacher, a seventh grader, who had been interested in robotics

Ian Swaby

McIntosh Middle School students Kuba Mohrbacher and Anna Dulovich participated in a robotics competition with the Technology Student Association.

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since association instructor Brent McClenathen showcased them for Mohrbacher’s class in elementary school.

“I always thought that was really cool, and I wanted to be able to build a functioning robot that I could control and just play around with and just have a fun time with,” he said.

The district also offers magnet programs like Sarasota High School’s MaST Research Institute, where students pursue science experiments of their own devising, with the program covering the cost of most supplies.

“It definitely is the type of research that contributes to the field,” said Andy Harshman, the program’s leader. “A lot of (students) get published as undergrads in college.”

Many STEM opportunities come from outside, through partnerships with organizations like Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, STEMania, Around the Bend Nature Tours

and Ed Explore SRQ.

SITES TO EXPLORE

In order to take a field trip, students don’t even have to leave school district sites.

For instance, they can experience Riverview High School’s Stars to Starfish field trip program, which encompasses both its planetarium and its aquadome.

The school-owned planetarium, which opened in 2010, offers programming for all ages and is equal in size to the 50-foot planetarium dome at The Bishop Museum in Bradenton.

At the aquadome, high school students perform research projects with numerous marine

Transforming

species while showcasing the facility to younger visiting students.

“When you’re little you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, those kids are so cool,’” said recent graduate Morgan Sims, who chose Riverview as her high school due to the aquadome. “It’s fun to be that person.”

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PATHWAYS

O’Dea said a key aspect of the district’s STEM offerings is equipping students with skills for the future through a “very rich” set of career and technical education programs.

“We have to continue to keep up with what our students are going to be asked to thrive within in the future,” O’Dea said.

She highlighted the presence of 23 career and technical education courses for middle schools and 16 in high schools, with some examples including biomedical sciences, applied engineering and electrocardiographic technician.

Meanwhile, an agreement

with Suncoast Technical College currently provides over 30 high school dual enrollment programs with free transportation, with some options being nursing, automotive technology and marine mechanics.

The college also hosts career skills challenges for secondary schools and “Experience” career luncheons where students can speak with professionals within an industry.

VIEW TOWARD THE FUTURE

There’s still more to come.

One major offering will be a new STEM-focused K-8 school taking shape on Skye Ranch and planned to open during the 2025-2026 school year.

The school has plans for an exclusive partnership with Mote SEA, the facility of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium currently under construction beside Nathan Benderson Park.

The relationship will provide students with not only field trips but also hands-on educational programs.

Ian Swaby

McIntosh Middle School instructor Dorothy Rieger works with Summer Mejia and Amy Garcia to dissect a pig.

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‘The

best experience’

Sports teach athletes off-the-field skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

RYAN KOHN

SPORTS EDITOR

Majestic van Ingen called her shot.

A recent graduate of Sarasota’s Riverview High, van Ingen was a sophomore when she volunteered in the Rams football team’s film department. She had been a football fan all her life, having watched the NFL every Sunday in the fall with her family, though she was a soccer player herself.

At an offseason football

practice, van Ingen looked down from the Ram Bowl’s film booth at the players, and a thought formed in her head. She could do what they were doing — and she would like to prove it. Van Ingen turned to a friend next to her in the booth and made a declaration. She was going to be on that field

Courtesy image Riverview High senior Majestic van Ingen was the Rams’ main kicker in 20232024.

herself in a year’s time.

Two weeks later, van Ingen approached Rams Head Coach Josh Smithers about a kicking tryout. With her strong soccer skills kicking would be the easiest path to making the team, she thought.

“I don’t think he (Smithers) was jumping at the idea,” van Ingen said with a laugh. “He didn’t know me, and I didn’t know him. But he let me come and try out.”

During the tryout, van Ingen did enough to earn a spot on the roster, though an injury would shut her down for a bit in the aftermath. Eventually, through her work that offseason and into her junior and senior seasons, van Ingen secured the coaching staff’s trust. As a senior in 2023-2024, van Ingen was the team’s primary kicker, making 53 of 54 extra points and five of seven field goals.

Van Ingen enjoyed the onfield aspects of football, but it was the off-field lessons she learned that will stay with her now that she has graduated.

In a time when school and

youth sports are taken as seriously by some as professional sports, van Ingen will remember her time in football not for the wins and losses, or where it led athletically, but how it changed her.

“It was the best experience of my life,” van Ingen said.

In joining the Rams, van Ingen was the only female athlete on the team. It was apparent to her that she would have to earn the respect of her teammates. That was OK with her. She learned to believe in herself, no matter who else did.

During summer workouts, van Ingen forced herself to work harder than her teammates. Her work ethic turned heads. In the summer, she would run early-morning sprints with her teammates until she vomited, she said. She never complained. By the time a year passed from her initial declaration to her friend, van Ingen was not simply on the team, she was an important part of it.

SEE SPORTS, PAGE 30

As a senior, van Ingen learned to stretch her leadership muscles. After a host of senior leaders graduated, she and others had to take their place. She began speaking more in group meetings, feeling empowered to do so.

As of June 21, van Ingen was debating her next stop, having narrowed her choices down to a few colleges. No matter where she goes next, she said, she will take the lessons of her time in high school football with her.

“I feel like I can accomplish anything,” van Ingen said. “It paid off mentally and physically.”

It’s not just high school sports, or high school athletes, who can make a difference.

Christian Garzia was a seventh grader at The Out-ofDoor Academy in 2023-2024. He played for the school’s football, basketball and lacrosse teams but also played rugby through the Sarasota Surge Rugby Club.

He’s a family-oriented person. His favorite athletic moments are facing his brother Michael in rugby; the two don’t hold back on each other, he

said, which makes it fun. Christian is also close with his other brother Rocco, though in a different way. Rocco has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare

genetic disorder characterized by chronic hunger, growth hormone deficiency and behavior challenges. It affects approximately one person per 15,000 live births worldwide.

Jen Garzia, Christian’s mother, said Christian has always been interested in Rocco’s syndrome. When Rocco was younger, the behavioral issues stemming from his syndrome would cause him to be restrained or pushed down to the ground. Christian said this bothered him. People didn’t understand Rocco or his condition. Christian worried for him, he said, but he felt helpless. There wasn’t anything he could do for Rocco.

Not then, anyway. As Christian has grown up and played sports, his leadership qualities have grown. He’s a quarterback in football because he loves the pressure that comes with the position, and he’s comfortable giving instructions to his teammates.

But nowhere has he shown better leadership than in the advocacy for Rocco and others

with Prader-Willi syndrome. In May, the Garzia family flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress about PWS in an attempt to increase awareness and secure support for PWS research and development.

Christian met with members of Congress, including Rep. Vern Buchanan, and was featured in video shoots describing what it is like to be a sibling of someone with PWS.

“I just want the best for him,” Christian said. “Everybody with a disability deserves help.”

The RMC Foundation, a nonprofit started by the Garzia family, will hold a golf fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Bradenton on Sept. 30. Christian will be there. The more he gets out of sports — leadership, confidence and public speaking skills — the more he will use those skills to advocate for his brother.

As much joy as sports bring to kids, their long-term benefits can mean so much more.

Courtesy image

Christian Garzia pushes off defenders during a Sarasota Surge rugby match. Garzia is an advocate for his brother, Rocco, who has PraterWilli syndrome.

Double the opportunities

Sarasota options suit a variety of career paths.

JIM DELA DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER

The road to a career can take many paths.

For some, traditional college is not the answer. Accelerated programs to learn specific skill sets can quickly launch a student into a high-demand, high-paying job.

For others, getting a head start on college can lower student debt and help them earn a degree faster.

Students throughout Sarasota County are taking advantage of dual enrollment options.

JUMPSTART ON HIGHER ED

Brittany Nielsen, the vice president of student services and enrollment management

at State College of Florida, said it’s typically high school juniors and seniors who are accelerated enough to take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities.

Dual enrollment is different from other college credit programs such as Cambridge AICE or International Baccalaureate (IB) offered at area high schools, Nielsen said.

In AICE or IB, a student takes an accelerated course but must then score well on a standardized test to receive college credit. In dual enrollment, if students pass the college class, they receive the credit.

“They know where they’re at as far as a grade,” she said. “It’s not getting to the end of your semester, taking a test and hoping and praying you get the right score.”

TECHNICAL

COLLEGES’ HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES

At Suncoast Technical College,

the nursing program is one of the school’s most popular programs.

Dawn Zoerner, a registered nurse and health science instructor, said the need for nurses is growing by the day.

Zoerner said the aging population has resulted in an increased need in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities.

The workforce is bouncing back, but “not as well as it

LEGO

WORKSHOPS

rather than a drive to enter the workforce.

He said he attended an open house at Suncoast Technical when he was a sophomore at Booker High School. While taking a tour, he met instructor Edward Fagan and liked what he saw. Now a graduating senior, he said the program has helped him realize he wants to pursue film as a career.

Fagan, who has decades of experience in the industry, said he tries to give his students a solid footing, not only on the technical and creative side of the industry but also on the business side.

should,” she said.

STC is expecting 80 dual enrollment nursing students this fall, the largest class ever, nearly double the year before.

In another part of the classroom building, Andres Rodriguez was viewing a music video he made as a graduation project. Rodriguez might not be the typical dual enrollment student. His choice for a field of study — digital video technology — was born out of curiosity,

He encourages his dual enrollment students to go on to college.

“They can get a head start with their education by coming here, learning the basics, and then jumping into college with 12 credits under their belt and certifications in (Adobe) Premiere,” Fagan said. Adobe Premiere is a video editing software.

If not, he said they have the skills to enter the workforce.

Jim DeLa

Andres Rodriguez, who graduated in May from Booker High School and Suncoast Technical College’s digital video technology program, puts the finishing touches on a music video he made.

Youth+Innovation STEM Programs at the State College of Florida Advanced Technology Center

The State College of Florida (SCF) Advanced Technology Center (ATC) offers innovative educational opportunities for young people through its Youth+Innovation STEM enrichment programs. Located at SCF Bradenton, the ATC aims to foster digital literacy, creativity, and critical thinking among the region’s youth.

Homeschool Education and Afterschool Enrichment

Central to the goals of engaging youth in emerging technologies is the SCF Coding Academy. The Coding Academy hires instructors and facilitators who are skilled in teaching skills to young audiences. Homeschool students can gain skills in science, technology, engineering, and math

in the Youth+Innovation Program. Afterschool enrichment programs provide hands-on opportunities for elementary and middle school students at SCF Bradenton and SCF Lakewood Ranch. The Coding

Academy houses equipment such as microprocessors, robotics, 3D printers, laser cutters, drones, virtual reality labs, and game design laptops. These tools help students from elementary through middle school engage directly with technology, inspiring them to pursue degrees and careers in high-wage, high-skill STEM fields. For 2nd through 8th graders, SCF offers homeschool classes and after-school enrichment, including:

• Coding with Minecraft®

• FIRST® LEGO® League Robotics

• Drone Zone Experience

• 3D Design and Printing

These classes develop problemsolving and critical thinking skills, laying a foundation for future academic and career success.

Pre-College Workshops and Enrichment Programs

The Youth+Innovation Program offers the opportunity for middle and high school students to network with industry professionals and explore emerging technology careers using drones, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity ethical hacking, and robotics automation. These free workshops help parents and students better

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understand how middle and high school experiences impact college preparation. Students are encouraged to pursue certifications and micro-credentials

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SCF Advanced Technology Center offers seasonal STEM camps during Summer, Winter, and Spring breaks cater to various age groups with activities like Minecraft, drones, robotics, science experiments, entrepreneurship, engineering, graphic design, and cybersecurity. Field trips provide real-world industry insights. Camps allow students to build community by making friends while learning practical digital skills. Weekly camps motivate learners and prepare them for success in a digital world. Scholarships are available to ensure accessibility.

Contact Advanced Technology Center Director Desh Bagley at (941) 752-5160 or email Coding@SCF.edu for more information and to schedule a tour.

The ins and outs of pickup and drop-off

Parents and a school principal offer their advice on the busiest part of the school day.

IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER

It might not be the parts of the school day that kids and parents most look forward to, but it’s something that must take place: pickup and dropoff times.

During these busy moments, a little patience goes a long way, said Rebecca Medvecky, a parent whose children attend Fruitville Elementary School.

“At the end of the day, they’re just emotionally and physically exhausted, so sometimes just buckling a seatbelt can take a lot of patience,” she said. But as you’re waiting, there’s

more to think about, and plenty of actions to avoid.

SAFE STARTS AND ENDS

Danielle Ford, president of the Tatum Ridge Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization, said the No. 1 priority is having your child exit the vehicle on the right-hand side. She said it’s beneficial for safety but also for alleviating traffic.

If the school uses a hang tag for vehicle identification, make sure it’s visible, Ford said.

She also said to make sure children know what color their car is, because otherwise, children can sometimes approach the wrong car.

“I know a lot of my teachers that do it on a regular basis, they get to know, ‘Oh, you’re in this car; Oh, you’re in this car.’ But for us new people, it can be difficult. So we look at the hang tag,” Ford said.

Medvecky said it’s important

PICKUP/DROPOFF TIPS

■ Make sure you are moving with the flow of traffic.

■ Drive the speed limit.

■ Watch out for crossing guards and make sure your kids adhere to their rules.

■ Arrive on time, or be early for pickup and dropoff, especially during the first week of school, to help alleviate traffic.

■ Don’t try to overtake anyone or come out of the pickup line.

■ Wait in the line; do not wait by parking in the parking lot.

to work with teachers to ensure you know where your child will be picked up if the school has multiple buildings.

McIntosh Middle School

Principal McHenry Lerebours recommends arriving 15 to 30 minutes prior to dismissal. He also said to pay attention

to all formal safety rules, as he’s had to address several parents about related issues.

Some of these issues include parents telling children to walk off campus to be picked up or to walk across the parking lot rather than embarking and disembarking in the designated zone.

“Parents are supposed to remain in their cars with their kids when they’re dropping off, until they make their round onto campus,” he said.