Imagine school at Lakewood Ranch showcases students' artistic talents

By Madison Bierl
| 9:45 a.m. April 5, 2025

Alexandra Gutierrez and Aliah Reyes enjoy a break between songs during their performance.

East County
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Live musical performances, an art gallery, and a short play all showcased the electives that are available at Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch during a special event April 3.

Instructional Coach Caitlin Johnson said the art projects represent the school’s core values, which are self-discipline, honesty, open-mindedness, and respect.

Gina Gretz has been teaching art at Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch since November 2024. She said the projects took a lot of planning and were all based around the Shark Pledge. The school's mascot is the shark.

First graders made sea creatures using bright colors with markers and stencils. Second graders made 2-dimensional artwork of sunsets and sea creatures using materials including tissue paper and felt. This was to represent open-mindedness, which broadens horizons.

Third graders made lighthouses out of cardboard and acrylic paint. In the Shark Pledge, honesty shines as a guiding light.

Fourth graders created sharks out of clay.

Thira Pompa is a fourth grader who’s project was made of clay, but she decided to make an octopus and crab instead of a shark.

“I couldn’t find the right position I wanted my shark to be in, so I made an octopus instead,” Pompa said.

Pompa along with her mother Ashley Pompa moved from South Dakota. Thira Pompa has been attending since February.

Ashley Pompa said that she appreciates that the school has specific curriculums for specific students.

“They don’t feel like they’re getting left behind,” Ashley Pompa said.

Fifth graders and middle schoolers created paper machet anchors to represent self-discipline.

Principal Ashley Allen said that the event was a way for families who are signed up for the next school year to start getting immersed in the school instead of waiting until August.

“We work to show that we’re very proud. We’re not very loud but we’re very proud,” Allen said.

Second grader Alessia Acosta is proud of her artwork.

Kindergartener Aiden McClellan poses with the sea creatures he created.

Art teacher Gina Gretz explains that her second grade students used different materials such as tissue paper, felt and markers to create sunsets and sea creatures.

The fourth grade students made sharks out of clay.

Fourth grader Evalyn Perez, art teacher Gina Gretz and sixth grader Yaslin Perez pose with their artwork.

First grader Mya Branch performs a cheer for her sister Joy Branch, who is in second grade.

Cailee Tomiak plays "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder.

Ramses Carmona plays guitar alongside his classmates.

DJ Jean played both guitar and keyboard during his performance.

Pre-K students Sawyer Beasley and Bronxton Budd enjoy some fun time before the musical performances.

Connor Bassett and Ramses Carmona play both acoustic and electric guitars during their performance.

Music teacher Nicholas Haas introduces each song.

The Artistry and Insights leadership team includes (back row) Jackie Crawford, Keri Mortiz, Ashley Allen and Amanda Bolan, and (front row) Caitlin Johnson, Katie Williams and Kaytlynne Barnett.

Coromoto Diaz, Anmi Petit, Jesus Acosta and second grader Alessia Acosta stand in front of the artwork made by the second graders.

Freddy's workers Hailey Day, Justin Stewart and Delaney Bumbara served burgers and hotdogs.

Kelsey Wright, owner of Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, takes a break in front of her food truck after being busy at the Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch event.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.