• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Braden River Elementary rocks the school day in Lakewood Ranch

Rock Our School Day at Braden River Elementary gives students an opportunity to leave their mark on campus.


  • By Liz Ramos
  • | 10:30 a.m. October 21, 2021
  • East County
  • Schools
  • Share

As Braden River Elementary School students walked down the breezeway before school Oct. 21, Kaehla Eidson, a kindergarten teacher made the rock symbol and held up her inflatable guitar.

"Rock on," Eidson said to students as they passed.

Braden River Elementary teachers and staff dressed and decorated the hallways for different eras of music from the 1970s to 2000s for the school's annual Rock Our School Day to get students more engaged in learning.

The day included dance parties, flash mobs, ice cream and reading "Ripple's Effect" by Amy Blankson and Shawn Achor.

This year's Rock Our School Day included a riddle in which students needed to find words hidden under rocks outside to create the sentence "BRE sparks rock their learning and leave their mark." 

Students then painted a rock however they wanted and placed it in the path of the school's Legacy Rock Garden, leaving their mark on campus. 

"It's the ripple effect of them leaving their mark and legacy at Braden River Elementary," said Courtney Walker, a curriculum coach and media specialist.

 

Kindergarten teachers Fran Vila, Shelly Askew, Noelle Bono, Kaehla Eidson and Claire Martin rock the '80s for Rock Our School Day.
Kindergarten teachers Fran Vila, Shelly Askew, Noelle Bono, Kaehla Eidson and Claire Martin rock the '80s for Rock Our School Day.
Kate Messer, a first grade teacher dressed for the '80s, greets students as they walk to class.
Kate Messer, a first grade teacher dressed for the '80s, greets students as they walk to class.
Tina Stancil, the assistant principal, and Courtney Walker, the curriculum coach and media specialist, take a photo as Tony Manero and Stephanie Mangano in
Tina Stancil, the assistant principal, and Courtney Walker, the curriculum coach and media specialist, take a photo as Tony Manero and Stephanie Mangano in "Saturday Night Fever."
Tiffany Buchek, an autism spectrum disorder teacher, brings back the '70s.
Tiffany Buchek, an autism spectrum disorder teacher, brings back the '70s.
Tiffany Greer, a second grade teacher, beat boxes as students walk to class.
Tiffany Greer, a second grade teacher, beat boxes as students walk to class.
Paige Royce, a second grader, and Tiffany Greer and Pam Tabb, who are second grade teachers, are excited for Rock Our School Day.
Paige Royce, a second grader, and Tiffany Greer and Pam Tabb, who are second grade teachers, are excited for Rock Our School Day.
Third grade teachers Xiomara Cappiello, Liz Cochran and Denise Miller dress the same for Rock Our School Day.
Third grade teachers Xiomara Cappiello, Liz Cochran and Denise Miller dress the same for Rock Our School Day.
Kindergarten teachers Fran Vila, Kaehla Eidson and Claire Martin rock out as students walk to school. The teachers were dressed for the 1980s.
Kindergarten teachers Fran Vila, Kaehla Eidson and Claire Martin rock out as students walk to school. The teachers were dressed for the 1980s.
Fourth and fifth grade teachers rock out to Journey's
Fourth and fifth grade teachers rock out to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."
Jill Pendergast and Jackie Long, who are speech therapists, are excited to see the students engaged in Rock Our School Day.
Jill Pendergast and Jackie Long, who are speech therapists, are excited to see the students engaged in Rock Our School Day.

 

Latest News

St. Lucie County Administrator George Landry has been recommended by Howard Tipton to replace him as town manager as Tipton prepares to retire.
  • June 19, 2026
New town manager recommended for Longboat Key
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
  • June 18, 2026
Woman charged in three high-profile Sarasota burglaries
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
  • June 18, 2026
Driver dies of injuries in blowout-triggered crash in Sarasota
Tony Barrett speaks at a candidate forum in April at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
  • June 18, 2026
Manatee County Commission candidate charged with domestic battery

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Schools

Vittoria Ferrisi Alvarez, Gracie Nichols and Sawyer Nowicki, all seventh graders at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, created the book called "Snowball's Iceberg Incident" to compete in the Children's Stories event for Technology Student Association.
  • June 10, 2026
Local students prepare for national TSA competition
Bridgewater's Jonathan Mullis, a local dad and business owner, wants to bring his experience and connections to benefit the School District of Manatee County school board.
  • June 9, 2026
Bridgewater dad says his connections make him a valuable candidate
Panther Ridge's Chantal Wilford wants to provide further support to families in Manatee County through becoming the District 5 school board member.
  • June 3, 2026
Panther Ridge mom hopes to make connections in District 5 school board seat
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's appointments to U.S. service academies for the fall include (from left) Micah Pubillones, Lakewood Ranch High graduate Jack Crosbie, Caine Cokkinias, Hunter Wilk, Dax Morgan, Caitlin Nguyen, and John Wheaton.
  • May 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch grads named to service academies
Novalee Roberts, a third grader at Myakka City Elementary, is eager to participate in the Tape the Principal (Carol Ricks) event.
  • May 28, 2026
Myakka City Elementary celebrates test achievements with 'Jump a Bucket'
New College was founded in 1960.
  • May 27, 2026
Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free