Lakewood Ranch Prep freshmen celebrate end of school year

By Liz Ramos
| 11:00 a.m. May 26, 2023

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy's Nicole Durbal signs freshman Sara Johnson's T-shirt.

East County
Schools

For Lina Nietz, a Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman, the school year started off a little rough.

With the school opening for its first year, Nietz said there was a lot of adjusting to the new policies and procedures, learning the village style of learning and more.

But by the end of the school year, she was thrilled to be a part of the inaugural class of freshmen.

"I'm sad we're leaving (for summer), but I'm really excited and looking forward to next (school) year," Nietz said.

Nietz celebrated the end of the school year with her fellow freshmen during Freshmen Fun Day May 25 at James L. Patton Park.

Students signed yearbooks and T-shirts, played cornhole, participated in State College of Florida Coding Academy activities and pet puppies from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

David Ellingson, a Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman, has fun playing cornhole.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Olivia Autrey stands still so physical education teacher Maggie Sharrer can sign her shirt.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Leah Serrapica signs a yearbook. She says her freshman year at the new school has been a rollercoaster.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshmen (back) Gracie Smith, Litton Gabrielson, (front) Ashley Tran and Sharon Dsouza say it feels great to finish their freshman year.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman John Conn works on building a mechanical arm.

After a year of adjusting to a new school, Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Lina Nietz celebrates the end of the year by petting a puppy from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshmen Elijah Commissiong, Molly Reichenbach and Krish Gilla have fun at Freshmen Fun Day.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy students work on STEM activities from State College of Florida Coding Academy.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Courtney Henderson makes a button calling herself the "World's Best Mom." She considers herself the "mom" of her friend group as she's always looking out for them.

Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Daniel Norris loves petting a Nate's Honor Animal Rescue puppy.

author

Liz Ramos

Senior Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.