Back to School 2025
SARASOTA
INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK
We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.
VPK
VPK
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
INFANTS - PRESCHOOL JR VPK
We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.
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).
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
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). We offer Infant, Toddler, Beginner, Early Preschool and Preschool programs for ages 6 weeks to 4 years of age.
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 11!
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!
Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday
SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)
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 11! AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed to mirror VPK for children that miss the VPK cutoff.
Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday
SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS
SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)
Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed to mirror VPK for children that miss the VPK cutoff.
Call and schedule a tour today to learn about this newly designed to mirror VPK for children that miss the VPK cutoff.
10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips
Holiday Breaks: Winter, Spring, Single Day Holiday
10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips
Child must turn 4 before 9/1/24. Classes start August 11!
3 meals provided
3 meals provided
SUMMER CAMP (MAY-AUGUST)
SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2025
SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUGUST 2025
PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
10 week camp with a different theme each week Field Trips
3 meals provided
CHILDREN AND FAMILY EVENTS
CONNECTIONS CURRICULUM
PROCARE, PARENT ENGAGEMENT APP
EARLY LEARNING ASSESSMENTS
A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR MICHAEL HARRIS
To paraphrase legendary U.S. Olympic Hockey Coach, Herb Brooks: “Great moments are born from great opportunity.”
Parents, that’s what you have here today.
Your children have more opportunities today than you had in school and if we want to go into the wayback machine, certainly more than I had in school.
In my day — yes, we had cars, I’m not that old — we had the clunky school buses, no air conditioning with windows that never opened, or, if they did, didn’t close when we got the South Florida storms soaking all your schoolwork.
Now, as you can read on page 24 of
this section, kids get to ride in aircooled comfort with electric buses.
While riding in the new buses, even your child’s Labubu won’t sweat. What’s a Labubu? It’s the hottest thing since you were collecting Beanie Babies, as you’ll see on page 32.
But parents, your child can start getting a jump on their careers with the array of unique courses (page 16) being offered in Sarasota County.
Kids today can look to broadcasting courses at Cardinal Mooney, marine science from Mote Laboratory and, of course, the Circus Arts Conservatory at Sarasota High.
When I went to school, I never bothered eating lunch at the “cafeteria.” Why? Well, to put it bluntly, it was lousy. Why were the peas brown and the meat was green? Parents, you know what I’m talkin’ about.
Now, look at page 14, your child gets whole grains and yogurt parfaits with berries. Parfaits? Hey, look, the right color for the berries too.
With every passing year, schools advance, and that only means great opportunities for your children.
Go get ‘em kids, we believe in you.
ON THE COVER: Lea Basulto and Lincoln Heath. Photo by Ian Swaby.
File photo
First grader Jhonson Jerre Francois and Amy Blyth at Alta Vista Elementary.
Balancing the books
School district to hold hearing for tentative budget for 2025 to 2026 school year.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
As Sarasota County school district officials cite difficulties like rising class sizes and less state funding, they are working to balance those realities to deliver a top-notch learning experience as the budget cycle approaches for the 2025 to 2026 school year.
Bonnie Penner, chief financial officer of Sarasota County Schools, said when prioritization is necessary, the focus is always on the essentials of students’ education.
“Always, always, first and foremost is the classroom, making sure that at a minimum, we’re meeting class size,” Penner said.
During a June 17 school board workshop, Penner said the proposed $748 million budget will include board-approved raises for teachers, as well as additional costs for the new Skye Ranch School.
While noting the district’s focus on classrooms, Penner said nonetheless, it is examining which positions it is possible to leave vacant, while still allowing the district to adhere more closely to class-size limits.
In the past, it has tended to keep class sizes below the state limits, which are 18 students in prekindergarten through third grade, 22 students in 4-8, and 25 students in 9-12.
“The cuts to our federal funding and our state funding we cannot fully absorb in the district’s budget,” said Sarasota School Board Member Liz Barker. “It’s just not possible, but we will do everything in our power to protect the sanctity of the classroom.”
Barker says the district has
KEY DATES FOR UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE
July 19: FDOE deadline to certify required local effort
July 22: Approval of advertisements for budget
July 29: Public hearing and approval of tentative budget
Sept.16: Public hearing and approval of final budget
the best outcomes when it keeps class sizes as small as possible.
“I’ve advocated with the superintendent, that I think that particularly our kindergarten classrooms, and I think to some extent, even our first-grade classrooms, we need to be particularly diligent about keeping those sizes small, because kindergartners, they’re not just there to learn to read and write, they really need so much help beyond that,” she said.
She said most of those classrooms have one teacher, and students may need help with needs like fine motor skills, tying their shoes, zipping their coat, or using the restroom.
“Where we may have worked really hard to keep our class sizes closer to 17 or 18 in those upper grades, fourth grade through eighth grade, we may have to bump those sizes up to be closer to the state standard, which is 22, and that will mean that it’s a lot more work for teachers, and it will mean less specialized instruction for students,” she said.
WHAT DOES A TEACHER MAKE?
When it comes to teacher salaries, Sarasota County ranks near the top of the state.
According to statistics from the Florida Department of Education, during the 2023-2024 school year, Sarasota County’s average teacher salary was the secondhighest among the state’s 82 counties at $68,428.16.
In 2024, the school board approved a minimum salary for instructional staff of $57,500 for 2024 to 2025, and $60,000 for 2025 to 2026.
That can also mean there are no county plans to hire more teachers as class sizes grow.
In June, the district implemented a hiring freeze to control costs.
Penner said the district is also looking at operational efficiencies, enhancing the use of grant resources, restrictions on nonessential travel, and examining contracts, licenses and overtime.
Despite these challenges, Penner noted that the preliminary budget still ends with a fund balance of 9%, higher than the 7.5% requested by the school board’s policy.
Another area where Penner has said the budgeting process is closely focused is the Literacy for All program.
The initiative was implemented by Superintendent Terry Connor in 2024, and was designed to individualize the reading instruction provided to students beyond what the former Reading Recovery program had offered, expanding literacy coaching and intervention and bringing them to all of the district’s schools.
“It would be very difficult for you to find middle and high schools that have literacy coaches,” Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic
ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS
2024-2025
Elementary schools: 15,993
Middle schools: 6,283
High schools: 12,193
Other schools: 3,728
Charter schools: 7,231
Scholarships: 3,929
2025-2026
Elementary schools: 15,413
Middle schools: 6,089
High schools: 12,291
Other schools: 4,489
Charter schools: 7,422
Scholarships: 4,752
Officer Rachael O’Dea told the Observer in 2024. “That’s a very different approach, and we’re probably one of the few in the state to have that at scale.”
The district also will need to manage the costs of the new Skye Ranch School, which opens in August.
The new K-8 facility, located at Clark and Lorraine Road, will begin serving students up to sixth grade, with seventh grade to come in 2026 and eighth grade in 2027.
In 2024, the school board voted unanimously to set a new boundary that will relocate 1,187 students from Ashton Elementary, Lakeview Elementary and Sarasota Middle School to the new school, which contains 1,382 student stations.
Penner told the Observer in June that the current team overseeing the budget, introduced under Connor in 2023, is “very well-resourced.”
She says the process of creating the budget involves working closely with other areas of the district.
“I meet with Mr. Connor once a week, meet with my budget team frequently, to see where we’re going with that, but also cabinet is very involved,” she said.
Penner will speak with schools about what their enrollment historically has been, and will involve the planning department, speaking about new neighborhoods coming in and other factors that may impact enrollment.
“This whole process really has a lot of input from the superintendent and the full cabinet, so they can see, not just here’s the strategic plan of where we want to go, but also each step of the way, this is how it’s going to impact it,” she said.
Ian Swaby
Alta Vista Elementary third grader Aria Grove works on an assignment
earn credits toward an associate degree.
Public, private and home-schooled students enroll in selected college classes.
12th-graders spend their senior year enrolled at SCF.
Sarasota and Manatee County public school juniors and Lemon Bay High School juniors ideally earn an associate degree by attending SCF full-time.
A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TERRY CONNOR
Greetings Sarasota County community members, I would like to start by offering my sincerest thanks to all of our students, families, teachers and staff members for their hard work and dedication this past school year. Additionally, I would like to extend a special thank you to our volunteers, community partners, and business partners who continue to serve our school communities. Though classes
began amidst a busy storm season, we ended the academic year in a place of stability and success. This would not have been possible without all stakeholders banding together to support each other, most importantly our students.
Our traditional public schools help form the foundation of our strong community, and I could not be prouder of the many accomplishments and milestones our school communities achieved this past year. Our academic team has been hard at work poring over assessment insights to ensure that our instructional team members are dialing in on key points and strategies that continue to propel our students forward.
In January, Sarasota County Schools learned our graduation rate for the 2023-2024 academic year was 92.5%. This is the highest graduation rate in our school district’s history — excluding the
2019-2020 graduation rate, when the Florida Department of Education waived the assessment requirements for graduation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023-2024 results directly correlate to the seemingly indefatigable care, skill and effort put forth by our teachers. We likely will not know our 2024-2025 graduation rate until next spring, but I am optimistic that our students will continue to excel.
As interest in our community has steadily increased year over year, we have seen more families moving to the county. The area’s natural amenities and arts and cultural highlights are certainly a huge selling point, but the most compelling factor for a family to relocate is the community’s educational offerings. Sarasota County Schools is excited to be adding a new public school to its award-winning family of campuses this fall.
Skye Ranch School, located at 9501 Lorraine Road, will officially open to its first students this August. Though it will eventually serve as a kindergarten through eighth grade campus, Skye Ranch School will initially only be available to incoming kindergarten through rising sixth grade students in the upcoming school year. This stateof-the-art school will offer a robust Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum with a specialized focus on science, mathematics and robotics.
The following school year (2026-2027) will see the opening of another brand new, traditional public school: Wellen Park High School. Featuring a modern, three-story 325,000-square-foot academic building, Wellen Park High will also boast a comprehensive athletic complex. A perfect addition to the already active lifestyle within the
master-planned Wellen Park, the school’s athletic amenities will include a synthetic turf football field, a nine-lane running track, multiple courts, and fields for various sports.
Our community will continue to change and grow, but rest assured that Sarasota County Schools will not lose sight of our core vision. We will continue to strive to be the premier education provider that empowers every student to thrive in an ever-changing world through innovation and continuous advancement. We are honored to serve the wonderful children and families of Sarasota County.
I hope that everyone continues to enjoy their summer break. We will see you on Monday, Aug. 11, for the first day of school!
TERRY CONNOR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
SCHOOL YEAR AT A GLANCE
File photo
Mauricio Hammal Pellegrino, Tuttle Elementary principal Patricia Folino and Maykol Canales prepare for a “Save Fred’ activity in Mayra Ocasio’s fourth grade art class.
Construction means growth
As the school year approaches, Sarasota’s school district progresses on several high-profile construction projects.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
Predicting growth in the school district is always a challenge, said Jody Dumas, executive director of facilities at Sarasota County Schools.
He said over the last five years, Sarasota is beginning to grow in certain areas of the district, and those areas are typically in Lakewood Ranch.
He said the district has also been eyeing Palmer Ranch east of Interstate 75, and south Sarasota County in Wellen Park.
Overall, he said, the district’s population has been trickling “a little bit up and a little bit down.”
Nonetheless, the district has some major construction projects still on the way. Here is some of the major work that is upcoming.
SKYE RANCH SCHOOL
The district’s major development this year is the opening of the new Skye Ranch School at Clark and Lorraine roads, its first new school in more than 15 years.
The school will be available to incoming kindergarten through rising sixth grade students, although it will eventually serve as a K-8.
Dumas said in June the project was on schedule, and the district was readying the facility, adding staff and adding in furniture.
“Between now and August ... our real big focus will be trying to get that, make sure that’s open and ready to go, and that’s going to be a beautiful facility,”
he said.
Budget: $106 million
Capacity: 1,382
Completion: August 2025
SPORTS FIELD HOUSE RENOVATION AT BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL
For years, a building near
“Overall, the district’s population has been trickling “a little bit up and a little bit down.”
Jody Dumas
Wellen Park High School in North Port is scheduled to open summer 2026.
Booker High School’s football field was a mechanical room serving the school’s chillers.
However, with the equipment no longer present in the space, the district is converting it to a space with features that will include football locker rooms, a team room and coaches offices.
“We’re excited about that. That’s really going to be nice for Booker High,” Dumas said.
The project follows the opening of a new track last year.
Budget: $2.2 million
NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN WELLEN PARK
This year, construction continues on a new high school in Wellen Park, North Port.
The district’s first high school since North Port High in 2001, the 363,600-squarefoot space 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.
“That’s coming along nicely. That’s still on schedule,”
Dumas said.
Budget: $210 million
Capacity: 1,967
Completion: Summer 2026
THE FARM AT MCINTOSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
With The Farm at McIntosh Middle School now open and welcoming students, work continues on the agricultural and livestock facility with Phase 2.
“Phase two of the farm is moving along very, very nicely,” Dumas said. “That should be ready to go and we should have a lot of students on campus here as we get into new school year.”
Features of Phase 2 include an additional barn, as well as a nearly complete teaching kitchen hosting farm-to-table foods.
Budget: $8 million
Timeline: Phase 2 opens Sept. 2025
SARASOTA HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION
Two classroom buildings at Sarasota High are undergoing
a heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovation, which also involves upgrading finishes, ceilings, floors, paint, cabinets, some doors and lights.
The project began in Building 13 and has now moved into Building 14.
“We’re moving. We’re on schedule in that project,” Dumas said.
Budget: $37.5 million (as of Nov. 2024)
SARASOTA MIDDLE SCHOOL RE-ROOF
After several years of roofing at Booker Middle School, the district is now headed to Sarasota Middle School for the same project, Dumas said.
Budget: $12.9 million
Completion: 2028
GARDEN ELEMENTARY TOTAL SCHOOL REPLACEMENT
After Garden Elementary School in Venice suffered significant impacts from Hurricane Ian in 2022, the district settled on a demolition and total replacement of the build-
ing. Dumas said the project was breaking ground “almost immediately.”
The project will keep a new cafeteria building for other uses later on, while transitioning students into another new building.
Budget: $80 million Capacity: 950
Completion: Summer 2027
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LAKEWOOD RANCH
The district is preparing to introduce a new elementary school in Lakewood Ranch.
“We are moving closer to that. So we’ll start on that the end of next year, probably,” Dumas said in June.
He said this school will relieve population growth in the Tatum Ridge area.
5-year forecast: $77 million
BAY HAVEN SCHOOL OF BASICS PLUS HVAC RENOVATION
In June, Dumas said the renovation at Bay Haven School of Basics Plus was wrapping up.
The improvements were intended to address aging con ditions in the interior, updating features including security, air conditioning, lighting, walls and carpeting.
Budget:
Completion: 2025
SARASOTA
HIGH
AUDITORIUM RENOVATION
Funding begins in 2026 for a new performing arts center at Sarasota High. The project will involve the demolition of the current auditorium as well as some ancillary buildings, construction of a new theater and music suites, and the renovation of old music spaces into classrooms.
The project will allow the district to “add 10 or 12 classrooms and increase the capacity of the school as well,” Director of Construction Services Jane Dreger recently told the school board.
Budget: $75 million
Status: Project begins in 2027.
Fueling education
How Sarasota’s school district feeds thousands of students each day.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
If you think back to the past, you might remember a time when pizzas in school cafeterias tended to be not round, but square.
Sarasota’s school district gave students of all grade levels the nostalgic treat of square pizza as the 2024-2025 school year ended.
That’s just one example of how the school district hopes to entice kids to dine with it, said Sara Dan, director of Food and Nutrition Services at Sarasota County Schools.
Feeding a district is an undertaking that involves meeting nutrition requirements, the
needs of students with varying tastes, and allocating all the products and ingredients across a public school system that serves around 45,000 students.
However, Dan says a passionate team keeps the service in motion.
Dan describes the district’s meal program, which is funded independently throughout the regular school year, as a restaurant within the district.
The National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which sets standards involving factors like whole grains, vegetable subgroups, protein and portion size, funds the program.
“We’re exposing (students) to good, nutritious choices,” Dan said. “Our pizza isn’t like just regular pizza. The cheese is reduced fat, the grain, it’s a whole grain crust.”
However, within those requirements, there’s still room for the district to experiment, and Dan, who is one of three
Ahealthy smile is important at any age, but for kids and teens, it can shape how they feel about themselves and how they interact with the world. “I’ve seen how confidence and attitude improve from the beginning of treatment to the end. Even the shy ones end up smiling and feeling good about themselves,” says Dr. Karen Varone. A successful treatment plan for a healthy smile isn’t one-size-fits-all-it’s different for every child or teen. That’s why Dr. Varone offers free, in-depth consultations for parents exploring orthodontic options. A personalized approach is essential to finding the right path forward.” During the consultation, parents will get all the information they need to decide what is
right for their schedule, kids, and family,” she explains.
During the consultation, Dr. Varone explains the differences between braces and Invisalign options, including Invisalign Teen, Invisalign Expanders, and Invisalign First. Designed with growing mouths in mind, these options offer clear aligners that are removable, easy to clean, and much less noticeable than traditional braces. That means fewer disruptions to sports, music, meals, and self-esteem.
Invisalign First, designed for children ages 7 to 12, gently guides jaw development and corrects bite issues early. This often prevents more complex orthodontic problems later. Early treatment typically lasts 6 to 12 months and lays the foundation for
registered dieticians on staff, says the menu brings “inspiration from other districts, inspiration from restaurants, inspiration from just all sorts of sources.”
“We really look at the quality of everything and we try to balance everything, taking into consideration the cost,
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taking into consideration the quality, making sure it meets the guidelines. There’s just a lot of there’s a lot of factors involved,” she said.
She said the program serves around 22,000 to 26,000 lunches and 30,000 to 40,000 meals per day, including breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks. Some items are ready made, while there are from-scratch creations, like the macaroni and grilled cheese sandwich. Although staff perform taste tests on the foods, the ultimate test, she says, is its popularity with students.
“Students are the best judge of anything because they’re going to be honest,” she said. “If they don’t like it, they’ll tell you.”
Sourcing of ingredients comes from various locations through Gordon Food Services. Dan said the department is currently in the process of rebuilding some supply chains for local ingredients that were affected by the pandemic, while the Florida Department of Agriculture is “constantly”
Confident Smiles Start With Clear Options
lifelong dental health.
Invisalign Teen comes with smart features specifically tailored for teens. Because Invisalign aligners are comfortable and barely noticeable, they reduce embarrassment, minimize disruptions, and provide more motivation to stay on track. “Sometimes students come in who are nervous about how orthodontics will impact the activities they love, such as athletics or music, acting, and singing. They relax when they discover that Invisalign won’t affect their speech or comfort. And, since a standout feature of Invisalign
aligners is their comfort and discreetness, it won’t affect a budding athlete’s ability to be on the field.”
From an oral hygiene, scheduling, and comfort standpoint, Invisalign is often far superior to traditional braces, and requires fewer appointments. However, thanks to Dr. Varone’s high level of expertise, all treatment options lead to the same significant improvements. “In my office, we get top results with either method, and feel confident putting the decision in the hands of the family to decide what’s best for them.”
LAKEWOOD RANCH: 6286 Lake Osprey Dr. PHONE: (941) 907-8898
SARASOTA: 2916 Bee Ridge Road
PHONE: (941) 922-6444
WEBSITE: www.mvorthodontics.com
Courtesy image
Students receive a meal in a school dining area.
working to connect the district with local farmers.
“If we can find something locally sourced, we will definitely try to purchase it if we can afford it,” she said.
Distribution of items goes throughout the district using the order guide sent with the menu. They also look at food production records.
“Say I’m making macaroni and cheese, I may need 25 pounds of macaroni, and this many pounds of cheese, and it literally tells them every ingredient,” Dan said.
The order will be checked by area managers, who ensure the location manager hasn’t missed any items, and then checked again by the operations team, before being sent to the companies which provide the food and supplies.
Dan says anyone can enjoy the meals within the school district.
“Any student within Sarasota County can participate, so we would like everybody to. That’s the goal,” she said.
The district works with par
ents on plans for students with medically documented food allergies.
She says some families will avoid registering for the meals because of the fear of taking food away from a child in need, but she says they need not be concerned about this.
“If student A and Student B are both on meal benefits, their two meals go to be reimbursed. It’s not one over the other,” she said.
In Sarasota County, about half of students receive meal benefits, with either free breakfast and lunch, or reduced prices.
With so many students relying on the district’s meals, Dan says it’s the work behind the scenes that makes all the difference.
“Our team has so much heart,” she said. “You work with amazing people. You get to work around kids, which are wonderful, and you get to work in a district with a lot of great supportive school staff who want their kids to be successful.”
Career Certificate
To meet the demand for training, MTC offers over 50 career certificate programs in fields such as Manufacturing, Allied Health, Health Science, Construction, Culinary, IT, Digital Arts, Salon Services and more. Many programs can be completed in a year or less, focusing on preparing students for better careers and providing industries with a skilled, professional workforce.
Preparing students for academic and personal success by receiving instruction to help them pass the GED test and earn a State of Florida High School Diploma.
English language learners work toward language proficiency, transitioning to postsecondary education, and gaining employment.
Enables employers to develop industry-standard training for apprentices through on-the-job training, related technical instruction, and structured wages.
Allows junior and senior high school students from Manatee County to take post-secondary courses either full-time or part-time while completing academics at their high school.
Special Election
From circus skills to hands-on marine biology experience, here are some of the possibilities for unusual ways to learn.
As a town with features from circus roots, to an upcoming science education aquarium, Sarasota offers educational opportunities that go beyond the ordinary. Here are some of the unusual school courses in Sarasota that students can take advantage of. WALK THE
The original circus program at Sarasota High School began within the school in 1949. According to Lead Magnet Teacher Dakota Carrera, because of Sarasota’s deep roots in the circus, the school decided to tailor its offerings to the children of circus performers in the area.
FC SARASOTA SOCCER CLUB
File photo
Zaylie Ellis of Sailor Circus, walks the tightrope.
“They didn’t play football or baseball, they were circus kids,” Carrera said.
Today, the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Circus Magnet Program serves both Sarasota High School and Booker Middle School.
It is the only program anywhere in the county integrating the circus arts into the school system, according to Bryan Burnstein, the organization’s vice president of program development and youth performance management.
It also offers a variety of classes and opportunities outside the school system.
“When I tell my friends from other states that I do circus, they’re all like, ‘Wait, what do you mean?” said Piper Fancher, who is now a ninth grader at Booker High School. “And the next thing is they all think it’s really interesting, because they’re all learning the normal stuff, like either art or music, but then here, I’m going to a circus arena and training acts. They all think it’s really cool.”
“She’s living art, performing
to music,” Carrera elaborated.
Fancher said there is something for everyone, whether people are stronger when it comes to climbing, juggling, or doing flips in the air.
Burnstein also notes this year, programs are expanding.
This year will be the first time that the high school program offers two pathways, with opportunities for students
who want to perform as well as another for those who simply want to train in the skills.
Meanwhile, the middle school program is doubling in size.
Ella Abrahamson, now a sophomore at Booker High School, said what keeps students returning is the “great environment” and the people.
“The coaches keep push -
ing you to try your hardest,” she said. “They don’t just give up and they’re like, ‘OK, well, that’s what you can do, so that’s what you’re gonna do.’ They’re like, OK, well, if this is what you can do, then let’s try to do something else, do a little add on... and before you know it, you just have something that you’re so proud of.”
The programs set expecta-
tions of students, including a 3.0 GPA and volunteering 50 hours a year with the Circus Arts Conservatory.
Instructors say whether students are looking to take the circus in a professional direction, students will get interpersonal skills and confidence, helping them in any arena.
“It’s a great place for you to learn to be in the shows and how it feels to be on stage, and work with these coaches that have been doing this professionally for so many years,” said Ava Weller, a junior at Sarasota High School.
For more information: Visit SarasotaCountySchools.net.
A NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Sebastian Bruno, a junior at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, had grown tired of the pressure of sports and was looking for something to
Ian Swaby
Lead Magnet Teacher Dakota Carrera
Courtesy image
The Cougar Network uses an array of professional equipment.
fill the void.
He decided to join the school’s Cougar Network, which launched in late 2024 and gives students hands-on experience in TV production and announcing.
“I still love sports, it’s more just like the pressure that comes with the actual game. I didn’t find it fun anymore, and I’d rather just analyze other people playing the game,” he said. “I’m still connecting with the sport, but I’m not under that amount of pressure.”
Nonetheless, do not underestimate the educational opportunities at the Cougar Network, which broadcasts sports games of the Cardinal Mooney Cougars, and activities including concerts, ceremonies, graduations and the morning announcements.
“We try to make it look as close to a professional ESPNlevel broadcast as we can, with multiple cameras, full graphics, replay,” said instructor Ryan
Krause. “I can’t really think of any other schools who are doing it quite to that caliber that we’re doing it at.”
Some features of the program include a full control room, a TV studio with a green screen, and abilities like video graphics and instant replay. Students will learn skills like operating a camera, techniques of filming, lighting, how to direct and how to set up equipment.
“I loved it so far, definitely, and I’m doing it next year as well,” Bruno said.
Krause said he brought the idea to the school’s principal, Ben Hopper, who provided the funds for the program, amid its growth in sports.
“We’ve got a lot of big sports teams that are going pretty far and doing really well, but we were lacking kind of an elective program that kids could take in the art/tech field,” Krause said.
The program provides different capacities for students to work in. Erin Sugg, a junior, participates behind the scenes from the camera.
“I always watch the games
back to see what we can improve on,” she said. “I’m always like, that wasn’t a very good shot, and just trying to learn from our mistakes, and seeing how we can make it smoother next time.”
Students who are on air delve into the research side of broad-
casting, and learn what goes into being able to talk about a topic for hours.
“When I first get behind the mic, it’s shaky, like I’m a little nervous, but by the time the game gets underway, everything’s flowing, you just feel comfortable,” Bruno said. “And
especially me. I’m a sports guy. I know a lot about sports, so it’s pretty easy just to do it. Just talk about what you know.”
Krause said the opportunities are growing, with plans underway to merge with the school newspaper for a onestop shop for communications.
For more information: Visit CMHS-Sarasota.org.
IMMERSED IN SCIENCE
Education is an important aspect of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, notes Kathryn Gentile, a communications coordinator at the aquarium.
That’s true when it comes to homeschool students as well, with Mote’s homeschool programs offering a chance for students to gain hands-on experience in marine biology.
“When I was little, I actually did want to become a marine biologist,” said 13-year-old Ariel Rischer. “And Mote has really helped me find a passion for it.”
Mote offers homeschool days
File photo
Nicolas Hunter shares how boating accidents might affect a Sea Turtles shell as a part of Mote’s Homeschool Program projects.
for age groups from 6 to 14. The aquarium also offers the Mote Homeschool Advanced Program from age groups from 9 to 16, which allows students with a strong interest in marine science to meet once a month, collaborating on STEAMbased projects.
Starting in the fall, both offerings will take place at both Mote’s City Island campus and its new aquarium, Mote SEA, allowing activities in the water and at the aquarium.
“It’s kind of like a way to get better outreach, to meet more people and kind of push us out into more social environments, so we get better at public speaking, speaking to new people and overall just presenting our ideas and topics to the public,” said Isabelle Gunderson, a junior in the Mote Homeschool Advanced Program.
Gunderson said the program has encouraged her steps toward the future, and she has always been interested in STEM as well.
She said she will probably go into a robotics engineer-
ing field, and might dabble in marine robotics.
Mackenzie Hall, a senior who worked with Gunderson on their “Manager Mangrove” project, said in creating the project, they wanted to tackle trash, something that affects mangroves significantly.
She said it was an opportunity to demonstrate a topic that they cared about to the public.
“I have always been interested in marine life and marine biology. I don’t have a specific ‘thing’ yet, I just love the ocean and everything in it. But yes, this has been on my pathway for a very long time,” Hall said.
Gentile notes the Mote SEA facility largely focuses on education.
Set to open at Nathan Benderson Park in 2025, it will feature teaching labs where local students can learn about marine science for free, and will partner with local public schools as well.
For more information: Visit Mote.org.
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.
Schools to storm shelters
Converting schools into storm shelters is a carefully orchestrated operation.
Allison Foster was principal of Phillippi Shores Elementary School at the time Hurricane Irma impacted
Sarasota in 2017.
“I will say that first storm, I was a little bit surprised,” she said, referring to the time she learned she would be involved in opening the school as a hurricane shelter.
She said her husband asked what she knew about opening a shelter, stating surely there was already a team in place.
“I said, ‘I think I’m it, I think I’m the leader of it,” she said.
Each year, Sarasota County Schools combines its efforts with teams from Sarasota County to open hurricane shelters in the schools across the district each year.
Foster, who is now principal of Southside Elementary, said it’s a large team effort that makes it possible for the district to convert the schools into shelters — and back again, so that students can resume their education.
READYING A REFUGE
According to Jody Dumas, the district’s executive director of facilities, this year’s preparations finished over springtime. This included their team checking and rechecking buildings, testing and fueling generators and implementing checklists.
He also says the district is constantly trying to improve
Passion Thrives. Performers
its speed of recovery.
“It depends on the storm and the amount of damage, on how long that cleanup takes, but I know our superintendent is always very, very anxious to get school back open, number one, so we don’t have to affect the schedule, and then number two, we know that especially after a major storm, getting people back into normal routines is important,” Dumas said.
Last year, in which the district faced the impacts of three successive hurricanes, Debby, Helene and Milton, opening shelters for the latter two storms, it altered the year’s schedule.
The district moved the end of its first semester from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 16, 2025, while including three makeup days, lengthening high school course times, and lengthening days.
Dumas says everything went as planned in terms of shelters.
“Last year was a busy year
SEE SHELTERS, PAGE 22
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
File photo
Shelter staff welcome visitors at Southside Elementary during Hurricane Milton.
certainly, as we responded to the hurricanes,” he said. “I think our sheltering activities went very, very well for all the community. No big problems. Everything kind of went as planned in terms of the way we thought the shelter should go.”
Foster said today, she’s been involved in the shelter process so many times that now, it’s a responsibility she’s used to handling.
“It kind of comes with the territory, I guess,” she said.
In early June, she said there weren’t plans at that point to reopen Southside Elementary as a shelter this year.
She said the teamwork involved is important to the success, noting the “great” team from Sarasota County that first came to Southside Elementary over the summer, to become acquainted with the campus.
“It was a great collaborative effort,” she said. “We opened two times last year, and I
think both times it went very smoothly.”
All administrative staff, including principals, are part of the shelter management program, while essential school district workers in areas like construction and maintenance also contribute.
Foster said at Southside Elementary, the work involved collaborating with teachers to make sure the building was ready, pushing desks and other
furniture to the backs of rooms, preparing radios and working with the district’s food and nutrition services staff.
The county staff worked on activities like registering residents, ensuring residents had transportation and engaging with residents throughout their stay.
She said the shelter did lose power, after which her team helped address the situation, bringing flashlights to rooms.
Dumas said only a few school sites have full power generators, and some have no generators, but only hookups for generators.
He said while a generator can allow some cleaning to take place earlier, most consequential for school reopening is the restoration of full power.
“Until we have that full power, it’s not reliable for a school space … I would say for us, the most critical thing in recovery is having reliable power back from (Florida Power & Light),” he said.
Foster said the shelters serve an important purpose for the community, but being able to reopen schools is also important.
“I think it’s great to open them, have a safe shelter, and then on the flip side, when the hard part has passed, that we can then relocate and get the schools back in operation,” she said. “I think that’s important for the community.”
Dumas said after the storm passes, the goal becomes working with the county to reopen
schools as quickly as possible, breaking down shelters, ensuring people have homes they can return to, and transporting people to alternative facilities that are available.
As soon as the storm ends, district condition assessment teams head out to make rapid assessments of all the school sites, while in the storm’s aftermath, the school district works closely with the county’s communication staff, mirroring their public announcements.
Foster said the speed of the reopening depends on how many residents occupy the shelter, noting during Hurricane Irma, Philippi Shores Elementary hosted more than 2,000 people.
“That took a lot, and people were stuck inside for a long time because of the duration of the storm, so we had to clean all the carpets and we had a lot that had to happen to get the school back in operation,” she said.
Courtesy image
Beds are arranged at a shelter during Hurricane Idalia.
Back to School on batteries
School district continues experiment with electric buses.
IAN SWABY STAFF WRITER
School districts across the U.S. are increasingly moving toward electric school buses, and Sarasota is no different.
The shift has been driven by a combination of factors, including environmental concerns, the potential for cost savings, and government funding opportunities, although some also note the quieter nature of electric buses.
After receiving a grant from the Department of Environ -
mental Protection in 2022, Sarasota’s school district has purchased six of 10 possible electric buses.
What’s the future of this mode of transportation for the district?
Director of Transportation
Keith Little says at this point, it remains to be determined what the cost impacts will ultimately be.
“For us, it’s going to be exciting in the next year or two,” he said. “As we as we get a few years of data underneath our belt, the true test is going to be when they get out of warranty. How many problems do we have? How much does it cost when we actually have to pay for the repairs, versus right now, everything’s covered under warranty?”
Sarasota County steadily used two of its electric buses last year without any issues.
A MULTIYEAR STUDY
Little said in November 2024, a standard school bus cost the district $159,010, and an electric bus cost us $414,481 at the time of purchase. However, due to the grant
program, the district receives payments offsetting the cost differences between the two buses. The grant requires the district’s oldest diesel buses to be scrapped as the electric ones arrive.
Ages 5 to Adult
The installation of chargers at the district’s transportation depot in Osprey is in conjunction with Florida Power &
Ian Swaby
Light.
Little says currently, the district is still continuing a multiyear evaluation and he is not yet able to form any conclusions about the benefits of electric buses versus those of diesel buses.
“I don’t know that we’re necessarily expanding it this second. I think we’re going to hold on,” he said.
However, thus far, he said there are no issues.
“The two that have been running consistently, we haven’t had really had any problems,” he said. “The drivers haven’t said anything. The students haven’t said anything, the mechanics. It’s been pretty easy going from those two so far.”
He says electric buses run in all directions from the Osprey depot, but do not service the whole county.
A total of three electric buses previously were in operation, but during the year, one of
them had to be returned to the manufacturer for repairs, due to issues with a battery pack that was under warranty.
Although the original grant covered 12 buses, an increase in costs resulted in the grant being revised for 10.
The grant’s original expira-
tion date was the end of June this year, but because the district hadn’t yet purchased all 10 buses, officials received a twoyear extension.
“We did extend the grant for two more years to give us time to look into, basically, what’s the cost truly going to be to us,
“In theory, there’s a lot less maintenance costs associated with the buses.”
Gary Donahue
before we get down the down the road and say, ‘OK, yeah, we’re just going to blindly buy four more,” Little said.
Although he emphasizes the overall costs are not yet clear, the electric buses bring some undeniable benefits. Little noted drivers have observed the quietness of the buses compared to diesel buses, and said he thinks students tend to be quieter as well, because of less of a need to talk over the noise.
“The pros, obviously, is that they’re quiet,” said lead mechanic Gary Donahue. “In theory, there’s a lot less maintenance costs associated with the buses. The cons are that, unlike a conventional bus, if they run out of fuel on the road,
we’ve got to tow them in.”
Donahue said the district has to be cognizant of mileage between charges.
He said the base maintenance on the buses, including components like tires and brakes, as well as the body, is the same as diesel buses, while the difference lies in the actual power components, for which the mechanical work requires a specific certification.
He said they had to delay the most recent order of regular buses, due while waiting for the impact that the tariffs of the Trump administration might have on the overall bid prices.
Little said costs are hard to predict, and cites how costs like electricity have rapidly risen the last few years.
“Obviously the cost of fuel and diesel has been higher than it normally has as well...” he said. “I think it’ll be interesting to see how the tariffs, depending on where the parts are manufactured and that sort of thing, what impact it has on it.”
Ian Swaby
Director of Transportation Keith Little says the school district is still gathering information on how the electric buses are faring.
Suppor t for academic success
Programs focused on health & wellness
Daily snacks provided at no additional cost
Scholar ships may be available based on eligibility
Busing available to select Clubs from par ticipating schools
Leader ship and civic engagement
Sarasota County evens the playing field
Female athletes at the prep level have more opportunities than ever before.
VINNIE PORTELL STAFF WRITER
In the world of high school sports, the phrase “Title IX” has become synonymous with equality for female athletes, but it may surprise some people how drastic of an impact it’s had.
Founded in 1920, the Florida High School Athletic Association for the next 50-plus years only offered girls three sanctioned sports: swimming and diving, tennis and golf.
girls cross-country, girls track and field, girls basketball and girls soccer.
The FHSAA and its member schools have been playing catch up ever since.
Many of the most recent sports to be sanctioned are girls sports, including flag football (2003), girls weightlifting (2004), competitive cheerleading (2008), beach volleyball (2022) and girls wrestling (2022).
High schools in the Sarasota area are starting to adapt to those changes, with some new opportunities coming soon.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL SUCCESS
Unsurprisingly, beach volleyball has been a perfect fit for the Sarasota area.
Sarasota, Riverview and Cardinal Mooney have each added the sport, with the latter two even building their own oncampus sand volleyball courts.
These programs have been some of the best in the state during the sport’s brief history. Cardinal Mooney made it to the state final four in 2023, and each area team finished this past spring ranked inside the top 90 teams in the state out of 257 squads.
High school boys had nine sports sanctioned before there was a fourth option added for girls.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX, which prohibits gender-based discrimination in any education program or activity that
receives federal funding,. It’s no coincidence what followed.
From 1974 to 82, the FHSAA sanctioned girls volleyball,
“You want to provide as many opportunities as you can for female athletes to participate,” Sarasota High Athletic Director BJ Ivey said. “We want to boost up our female athletes to make it more equitable with the amount of male athletes that we have participating.”
Dr. David Freeman, a Board Certified Orthodontist, has proudly been providing personalized comprehensive orthodontic care to children, teens, and adults in Sarasota for over 20 years. Freeman Orthodontics is a private, established orthodontic office supported by a talented and committed team focused on excellence.
Recent Mooney graduate Izzy Russell is the prime example of the difference of sanctioning sports like this. Russell earned a scholarship to play beach volleyball for Austin Peay this fall
Their office is warm, efficient, and inviting.
Personalized Orthodontic Care for Children, Teens, and Adults
Dr. Freeman passionately supports schools and nonprofits that serve children of all ages, animals, and those in need. Freeman Orthodontics is trusted and well-known throughout the community for quality care, treatment results, and community involvement.
Vinnie Portell
Cardinal Mooney’s No. 1 pairing, Kelsey Fisher and Izzy Russell, celebrate scoring against Bradenton Christian in a 2-0 win on April 9.
and experienced four years of winning.
That area success has Booker Athletic Director Carlos Woods excited about the potential to add the sport.
“We just hired Angelik Byrd as our new volleyball coach, so it’s something that I will definitely present to her to see if it’s something she will be interested in adding as well,” Woods said. “As long as she’s on board and we go through the appropriate channels to see if it’s something we can get off the ground, I’d love to add beach volleyball as well. It’s just another avenue for us to give our athletes more exposure and generate more scholarship opportunities.”
FLAG FOOTBALL COMING SOON
Oddly enough, flag football, sanctioned by the FHSAA over 20 years ago, took until this past spring for the first Sarasota area school to compete in games.
Booker began practicing in 2024 to prepare for its first sanctioned games this past
spring, and although the Tornadoes finished with a 1-4 record, its efforts led to results. Recently graduated receiver
HOMESCHOOL
Jewell Kerr earned a late offer to play flag football for Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas despite playing just five games in her career.
Adding flag football makes sense at a school like Booker, which has a rich tradition of success on the football field.
Cardinal Mooney will add flag football next spring and Sarasota is making plans to add it in the near future.
“Flag football was easy,” Cardinal Mooney Athletic Director Rafael Fernandez said.
“It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the state of Florida. Manatee County has them throughout their county, and for some reason Sarasota County didn’t. You see a need, you fill a need.”
GIRLS WRESTLING AND LACROSSE ON THE RISE
For years, wrestling was a sport doing a noticeable disservice to female athletes.
Girls were allowed to compete with boys wrestlers during regular season meets, but didn’t have a sanctioned post-
season tournament to compete in.
That changed in 2022. It’s becoming one of the fastestgrowing sports in high school athletics, and each Sarasota area high school has added the sport.
Cardinal Mooney was the most recent to add wrestling this past spring, but the only reason it was late to the party was because it didn’t have a boys wrestling team until this past spring, either.
Boys and girls lacrosse hasn’t caught on statewide like other new sports. There are just 204 girls lacrosse programs and 206 boys lacrosse programs, but Sarasota County has been on the forefront of adapting to the times.
Sarasota, Riverview and Cardinal Mooney have each added the sport.
REACHING EQUALITY
It took decades for girls sports to catch up to boys sports at the high school level, but participation numbers are finally starting to even out.
SONG
Vinnie Portell
Caroline Steinwachs drives toward the goal in a match against Cardinal Mooney earlier this season. The Riverview senior led her lacrosse team to a district title.
TIMELINE OF STATE-SANCTIONED SPORTS
Track and Field: Boys in 1915, Girls in 1975
Swimming and Diving: Boys and Girls in 1920
Basketball: Boys in 1922, Girls in 1976
Baseball: 1922
Softball: 1988
Tennis: Boys in 1922, Girls in 1938
Golf: Boys in 1927, Girls in 1947
Cross Country: Boys in 1947, Girls in 1974
Football: 1963
Wrestling: Boys in 1965,
In the 1971-72 school year — the year of Title IX — the National Federation of State High School Associations reported 3.66 million high school boys athletes in the nation compared to just 294,015 girls.
In the most recent survey conducted from the 2023-24 school year, there were 4.63
Girls in 2022
Girls volleyball: 1974
Weightlifting: Boys in 1974, Girls in 2004
Soccer: Boys in 1977, Girls in 1982
Flag football: 2003
Boys volleyball: 2003
Water polo: Boys and Girls in 2005
Lacrosse: Boys and Girls in 2008
Competitive cheerleading: 2008
Beach volleyball: 2022
million boys participants to 3.42 million girls participants. There is still work to be done, but with local schools planning to add opportunities for female athletes in the coming years, there might come a day sometime soon when girls athletes are afforded just as many opportunities as their male counterparts.
All the Accents
Accessories dominate 2025 back-to-school fashion.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Accessorizing can be the most fun, expressive part of assembling a back-to-school outfit, and the popularity of adding those personal touches is undeniable given the explosive popularity of the “Labubu” trend, oversized hair bows and character-based apparel.
The China-based company Pop Mart started a global craze with the introduction of its furry, monster-faced dolls sold in mystery packs, which people took to modeling on bag straps.
The exploding market also inspired look-alikes from other brands, earning the nickname “Lafufus.”
Incoming Riverview High School senior Amalia Mat thews said Labubus have defi nitely been popular this year, but so have other accesso ries, like lip glosses clipped to keychains and purses. She said this lines up with the more simple, fresh makeup looks trending right now.
On the other end of the spectrum, bolder prints, like camo and animal print, are making a resurgence.
“I’ve been seeing the cheetah, leopard and zebra prints everywhere, from bathing suits to dresses to skirts,” she said. “I feel like it’ll still be in fashion this school year.”
One unique trend is the uncommon combination of bubble-gum pink and emerald green, inspired by the release of the Broadway-inspired movie “Wicked.” The sequel is scheduled for this November, and the color combo is sure to remain on clothes racks.
Bold aesthetics aren’t just accessories, though.
Top: Oversized water containers remain an essential accessory. Middle: From metallic gold to neon, bold sneakers are trending now. Bottom: Pink and green combos made their way into fashion trends this year with the popularity of the Broadwayinspired movie “Wicked”.
Trending tennis shoes run the gamut from metallic gold to neon on black.
Oversized clip-in hair bows and ribbon-like jewelry are popping up in stores for fashionistas of all ages.
Teen fashion trends are experimenting with more atypical silhouettes as well, opting for a more cropped but
SEE STYLE, PAGE 34
wide style with shirts to go with high-waisted pants.
However, Matthews said parents doing back-to-school shopping shouldn’t get too caught up in chasing particular trends. Rather, they can pick up
She looks forward to seeing what prom dresses will be popular this year, especially considering how fashion-forward students have been bringing back bold colors and sparkle — almost “tacky cute” — but with a contemporary flair.
Above all else, Matthews
Sarasota Youth Opera is thrilled to present Hans Krása’s Brundibár This fully staged production features professional sets, costumes, and orchestra, with our Youth Opera members performing lead roles and chorus.
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