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East County | Schools

Tim and Lisa Holler with Melissa and Matt Rixon; Melissa Rixon is co-vice president of the McNeal Parent Teacher Organization.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: McNeal Elementary 10-year Anniversary Gala

Supporters came out to McNeal Elementary School's 10-year Anniversary Celebration Gala Nov. 1. The event, at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, featured a Texas Hold 'Em tournament, dancing, cocktails and food.

  • East County
  • Schools
Marissa Veith, Ilona Van Sprundel and Lexi Bruneman were eager to see their teacher get wet in the dunk tank.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 1, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Witt Walk-a-thon

Children at Gene Witt Elementary School helped raise money for their special-education classes, including music and physical education, Nov. 1, during Witt's annual walk-a-thon fundraiser.

  • East County
  • Schools
Beckett Smith, 4, "honked" at the crowd, during a Halloween-themed parade at The Goddard School.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Goddard Halloween Parade

Children at The Goddard School at Lakewood Ranch marched around the playground, during a Halloween-inspired parade Oct. 30.

  • East County
  • News
Dan Stephens, pictured with his daughter, Summer, decorated his tailgate with an ocean theme.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Little Ranchers Trunk or Treat

Children in Lakewood Ranch Baptist's Little Ranchers program enjoyed a trunk-or-treating event Oct. 30.

  • East County
  • News
Lisa Brooks' and Craig Jordan's class made sure to gather for a group photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 31, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Sprouts Trunk or Treat

Sprouts Child Development Center at Harvest United Methodist Church hosted a Trunk or Treat event for students Oct. 30.

  • East County
  • Schools
Unanticipated costs include $489,000 to hire 27 ESE paraprofessionals, $317,000 for seven gifted teachers, $407,000 for nine voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) teachers and $200,000 for nine VPK teacher aides.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • October 29, 2013
School district must make up $3.9 million

The Manatee County School District announced new, unanticipated costs that came after the school board adopted its budget in September.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Saint Stephen's football team played its first game on its new field Oct. 25.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • October 29, 2013
Falcons open new athletic center

Saint Stephen's Episcopal School officially opened its new $5 million state-of-the-art athletic facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 23.

  • East County
  • Schools
Chase Polivchak, 6, passed out candy with his sister, Zoe, 9.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 26, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: BRE Harvest Moon Bash

Families at Braden River Elementary School celebrated the fall season Oct. 26, during the school's Harvest Moon Bash event.

  • East County
  • News
Assistant superintendent Bob Gagnon, an East County resident who formerly served as assistant principal at Lakewood Ranch High School, was one of three administrators suspended without pay.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • October 15, 2013
Two school administrators depart; three suspended without pay

Two Manatee County School District administrators stepped down and three others were suspended without pay based on findings from a misconduct investigation of a former Manatee High School assistant football coach. '¨

  • East County
  • Schools
Bruyonna Graneum, a sophomore, freshmen Duraia Cox-Gibson and Precious Mitchell and sophomore Emaya Austin
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • October 13, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River Homecoming Dance

Braden River High School held its homecoming dance Oct. 12. At the 'Comic Book' themed dance, held in the school's gym, students could watch clips of super hero movies on a projector screen as they grooved.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sophia Albrecht, 6, encountered a patient simulator. In SCF’s simulation center, aspiring nurses and physicians train on these computerized mannequins.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • October 9, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: SCF Lakewood Ranch Open House

State College of Florida's Lakewood Ranch campus celebrated 10 years in business at an open house Oct. 8. Prospective students and their families toured the school's Medical Technology and Simulation Center and learned about SCF programs and services.

  • East County
  • Schools
Maxime Provost and his teammates rush out for Friday night football.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • October 5, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : ODA v Bishop Verot

The Out-of-Door Academy lost Friday, Oct. 4, to Bishop Verot 56 - 0.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sophomore Nick Bartoszek, 15, and freshman Brad Herring, 14, play the clarinet in the band together.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • October 4, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Lakwood Ranch High School Homecoming continued

Freshmen Katie Stincer and Nate Strawderman, sophomores Julie Castanzo and Gabriel Overton juniors John Merritt and Katie Molinari and seniors Brianna Adams and Chris Pearcey were crowned princes and princesses.

  • East County
  • Sports
Amy Bulfin, 16, plays Thrift Shop by Macklemore on the clarinet.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • October 4, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY : Lakewood Ranch High School Homecoming

Lakewood Ranch High School students experienced a sweet homecoming Friday, Oct. 4, when they beat North Port High School 35 to 21. Seniors Wyatt Mcleod and Marina Masterson were crowned homecoming king and queen.

  • East County
  • Sports
Superintendent Rick Mills said the budget process, his first, was challenging because the district had to create a line-item budget from scratch.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • September 18, 2013
School board adopts budget

The Manatee County School Board unanimously adopted a $568.3 million budget Tuesday night.

  • East County
  • Schools
Community Haven Chairman Ted Bogusz, President and CEO Marla Doss and Tom Rees help cut the ribbon.
    By
  • Harriet Sokmensuer
  • September 18, 2013
Our town: Community Haven celebrates new school

ommunity Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities Inc. celebrated the reopening of the remodeled Selby Day School with a ribbon cutting Monday, Sept. 16.

  • East County
  • News
Middle hitter Madison Jaco has been playing on Braden River’s varsity volleyball team since she was a sophomore.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 11, 2013
Volleyball: Court General

Senior Madison Jaco has spent the past two years developing into one of the vocal leaders for the Lady Pirates team.

  • East County
  • Schools
The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team improved to 16-0 after winning the Lakewood Ranch Invitational Sept. 7.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • September 11, 2013
5 High Moments of the Week

Lakewood Ranch High and Cardinal Mooney athletes make this week's 5 High Moments.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • September 9, 2013
School board votes to adopt budget tonight

The Manatee County School Board will vote to adopt the district's $566.9 million budget tonight.

  • East County
  • Schools
  • By Carley Engelberger, Alyssa Dienes and Mary Stagger
  • August 31, 2013
Pirates notch first win of the season

Braden River Pirates top North Fort Myers in their first game of the season.

  • East County
  • Schools
Austin Hoppe, 21
  • By Kimmy Comito and Sarah Karp
  • August 31, 2013
ODA falls to Bradenton Christian

The ODA crowd dressed out in all white for their first home game of the season last night against Bradenton Christian School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Jenelle and Xavier Omatseye hung out with Curious George.
  • By Josh Siegel and Harriet Sokmensuer
  • August 24, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Kiddie Academy Storytime LIVE!

Families gathered Aug. 24 at Kiddie Academy in Lakewood Ranch for the preschool's Storytime LIVE! event. Children got to meet Curious George and play on the playground. They also listened to a reading of the book, Curious George.

  • East County
  • Schools
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 21, 2013
Summer fun ends for 'Little Ranchers'

Lakewood Ranch Baptist Church's Little Ranchers Learning Center recently ended its summer camp series for its preschool program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
The Manatee County School District released a schedule to refund internal school accounts.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 21, 2013
District releases schedule to pay back schools

The repayment plan released by the Manatee County School District Tuesday promises to return 100% of the funds borrowed from individual school internal accounts by 2015.

  • East County
  • Schools
Katie Ciemniecki
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 21, 2013
Lakewood senior honored at 4-H event

Katie Ciemniecki, a senior at Lakewood Ranch High School, recently attended the Florida 4-H State Congress, at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gullett Elementary kindergarten student Bradley Brewer, 5, was eager to get to his new classroom.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 19, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Back to School

The Manatee County School District welcomed students back to class today.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills welcomed more than 45,000 students and roughly 2,450 teachers back to school today for the first day of class.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 19, 2013
Superintendent welcomes students back to school

Manatee County School District Superintendent Rick Mills visited nine district schools today to welcome students to school for the first day of class.

  • East County
  • News
Melissa and Kevin Redman with their son, Karson a fourth grader at Tara Elementary
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 16, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: Manatee County Schools Open House

Manatee County Schools held open houses Aug. 15 and 16. Students met their teachers, toured their classrooms and reunited with friends before the start of a new school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Micaela Castro, 7, dances as a puppy named Nugget.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 16, 2013
PHOTO GALLERY: 101 Dalmatians

East County children brought to life the adventures of Walt Disney's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" Aug. 16, with a special dance performance, at Jump Dance Co.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 14, 2013
School District brings back laid-off teachers

The district cut 186 teaching positions in May; it has reinstated most teachers.

  • East County
  • News
Braden River Elementary head custodian Calvin Johnson readies to clean a hallway.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 14, 2013
Almost in session

Local teachers and school staff members have been busy preparing to welcome the Manatee County School District's roughly 42,000 students back into classrooms.

  • East County
  • Schools
The tentative settlement applies to teachers and paraprofessionals.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 13, 2013
District, MEA reach settlement

The Manatee County Public School District and Manatee Education Association today announced they have reached a tentative settlement regarding raises.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee County middle- and high-school students participated in the 2013 Future Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference last month.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • August 7, 2013
FCCLA students earn top honors at conference

Manatee County middle- and high-school students participated in the 2013 Future Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference last month, in Nashville, competed against 3,600 students nationwide and brought home nine medals.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • August 6, 2013
District opens parent hotline

Starting Aug. 7, parents of Manatee County School District students can call an information line to ask questions about the coming school year.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 2, 2013
Schools host uniform fairs

Several East County elementary schools today and Saturday will host uniform fairs for new and returning students.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • July 31, 2013
As standards change, East County schools score well

Data released last week shows East County elementary and middle schools are mostly an exception to falling school grades statewide. Five schools received 'A' grades.

  • East County
  • Schools
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