Recess is over as school begins in Sarasota

Southside Elementary and Alta Vista Elementary kids make their return for the 2025-26 school year.

By Dana Kampa, Ian Swaby
| 2:00 p.m. August 11, 2025

Martina Kandrachoff sees off her older sister, Guillermina, for her first day of school at Alta Vista Elementary School on Aug. 11.

Sarasota
Schools

When asked what she was most excited for on her first day of kindergarten, Malia McCullough said with a cheerful grin that she couldn't wait for physical education class, a favorite subject of her mother's as well.

Amanda Swatek said seeing her daughter starting at her alma mater of Alta Vista Elementary School made the first day of school, Aug. 11, especially exciting.

"I went here as a kid, and I love how she's going to get to enjoy music, art and everything else instead of just staying in a classroom all day," she said. "I hope she makes some new friends and is happy when I pick her up."

Parents and younger siblings bid their family a happy first day as the students high-fived their favorite past teachers, straightened their backpacks and made their way onto the school campus.

Members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ across the street waved pom-poms and signs wishing the kids a great year.

"It takes nothing to make someone's day brighter," said church member Toska Strong.

"We're so excited to kick off another amazing school year at Alta Vista," Principal Meredith McArthur wrote the Observer. "We can't wait to learn, grow and soar together this year."

Meanwhile, at Southside Elementary School, it wasn't just another school year, but the one that will mark the school's 100th anniversary in 2026, for which a celebration is planned in January.

After Catherine and Dominic Forth said goodbye to their daughter Amelia Forth, who is starting second grade, they said they were looking forward to the year ahead.

Dominic Forth said the couple were "really excited" about "the whole buzz around the school today," as well as the anniversary and the new developments that are coming to the school in its honor.

"We're just so happy about the community and learning environment she's in, and just watching her thrive at school," he said.

Nadia and Dan Polimeni, who were coming to the school for the first time as they dropped off their son Leo Polimeni for kindergarten, enjoyed immersing themselves in the community, amid breakfast at the school's media center.

"We're excited," said Dan Polimeni, noting they were seeing "all new people, all new faces."

Principal Allison Foster said the school is working on multiple projects to ensure that the school meets the needs of the kids for its 100th year as much as it did on its first.

It has applied for a grant for Phase 2 of its courtyard renovation, to create an "outdoor learning space" that can host performances and other activities, and is planning an expansion of its media center and a beautified front entrance.

The school has performed fundraising for the projects, including selling personalized bricks on the front walkway.

"It's been great," Foster said. "We've had great interest from a lot of parents and families and community members that went to school here. It's been wonderful."

Xavier Lora waves a flag celebrating his first day of first grade, which also will celebrate his last day in the grade, while heading off to Alta Vista Elementary School with parents José Lora and Beatriz Ryan-Lora.

Pedro and Faviola Mendez enjoy breakfast with their children, Isla and Silas, on the first day of school at Alta Vista Elementary School on Monday.

Amanda Swatek has breakfast with her daughter, Malia McCullough. Malia said she is most excited for physical education class on her first day of kindergarten.

Alta Vista Principal Meredith McArthur gets students started on the right foot on the first day of school Monday morning.

Laura Busenburg, math science coach at Alta Vista Elementary School, greets returning students at the first day of school on Monday.

Members of the neighboring First Congregational United Church of Christ cheer on students heading into their first day of school at Alta Vista Elementary School. From left, Toska Strong, Pauline Geary, Jason Branham, Rev. Wes Bixby, Terri Crawford, Bernie Gottschalk and Nancy Taylor.

Erick Juarez-Lopez gets some words of encouragement as he starts his first day of first grade at Alta Vista Elementary School.

Jesus and Juan Moncada get a warm greeting from staff at Alta Vista Elementary School on the first day of the new school year.

Hawley Holsbeke, a fifth grader, her mother Tiffany Holsbeke, sisters Adeline Holsbeke, a third grader and Vann Holsbeke, a first grader, and her father Travis Holsbeke.

Kindergartener Abigail McDonough, and her parents Ana and Kyle McDonough

Second grader Zack Taylor and third grader Noah Winter, his neighbor, pose inside the "Back to School" sign outside the school.

Alex Chau and her daughter Celia Chau, a Pre-K student outside of Southside, and Cynthia Ordonez and her daughter Valentina Ordonez, a pre-K student outside of Southside

Catherine Forth, her daughter Vivienne Forth, who will attend Southside Elementary next year, and her husband Dominic Forth. Their daughter Amelia Forth is a second grader at Southside.

Erica Lavrentyev, her son Niko Lavrentyev, a first grader, her husband Kirill Lavrentyev, and her son Enzo Lavrentyev, a VPK student outside of Southside.

Second grader Sofia Saigal and her sister, first grader Isla Saigal

Danielle March, her daughter Fiona, a second grader, husband Brendan March, and son Reid March, a kindergartener.

Nadia Polimeni, her one-year-old son Luca Polimeni, and her husband Dan Polimeni, enjoy the breakfast. Their son Leo is attending kindergarten at Southside.

Fifth graders Ryland Esposito, Andreas Kobajlo, Joseph Cool and Charles Pimintel

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.