Southside hits the high seas on Celebrate Learning Day
The Southside Elementary School Parent Teacher Organizations coordinates a day full of activities related to cruising the Caribbean.
By
Amanda Morales
| 12:26 p.m. March 25, 2016
Sarasota
Schools
Share
A full-size boat parked in the car pick-up lane can only mean one thing at Southside Elementary School.
Thursday, March 24 was the annual Celebrate Learning Day organized by the Parent Teacher Organization. The event was themed Cruise 2016 and included seven zones tied to the theme with something for each grade level to learn.
Parent and event organizer Jennifer Stutler liked the idea of designing the day around the different elements of a cruise on its voyage as a way to introduce students to different careers, marine life and hospitality.
“We thought of the idea of a cruise because it would be a cool way to pull in different earning elements,” Stutler said.
In the Engine Room students learned about the mechanics of a boat motor and a boat was on display in the car pick-up lane.
In the Underwater Excursion station volunteers from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium brought a traveling fish tank and touch pool. Students were also introduced to sailing by the Sarasota Youth Sailing group.
The Island Life station explained the tourism-based economies of the islands. Other zones included the Hospitality Hub with a waiter relay race and the Lido Deck with circus entertainment.
“We just want them to understand the different factors and career possibilities,” Stutler said.
More than 100 parent volunteers coordinated and ran the day-long event on campus.
Students plunged into the touch pool from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium to feel starfish and sea urchins.
Alana O'Reilly of Sarasota Youth Sailing explains the parts of a sailboat to Noah Ulloa.
Bobbi Morgan leads students in a conga line in the courtyard at Southside Elementary School.
Along with a touch tank there was a traveling tank filled with fish and a coral reef on display.
Mote volunteer Ron Saper explains the importance of sea turtle conservation.
Zahara Sir tests the mouthpiece on a scuba tank.
Addisyn Wiegand hesitates before reaching into the touch pool with sea urchins, starfish and hermit crabs.
Hann Powerboats brought in a boat to display in the pick-up lane for the day.
Bobby Jodat and Addisyn Wiegand feel a sea urchin in the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium traveling touch pool.
Ethan Quartermaine, Cooper Middleton and Connor Mehrtens cool down with a tropical lemonade at the Island Life station where they learned about the economies of Caribbean islands.
Guliano Gastou races across the yard in the No Waiting hospitality relay race.
Mote volunteer Judi McCullough explains why and how often sharks lose their teeth.
Kaia Nelson tries to match the utensils and plates to the mat for the No Waiting hospitality relay race.
Parent Teacher Organization volunteers Kollene Carlsson and Monica Divari.
Lauden Simon and Brady Barber goof around in the photo booth.
Luca Patarnini learns to balance a plate at the Lido Deck station.
Rudy Carter adds his fingerprint to the beehive that will be installed at the Ritz Carlton golf course.
Russell Hann of Hann Powerboats brought in a a diesel Fiat marine engine to show the students the mechanical aspects of boats.
