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East County | Schools

Braden River High softball players Hannah Loyer, Ashley Allard and Courtney Mirabella signed letters of intent Nov. 16, during a signing ceremony in front of their coaches, teammates, family and friends.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • November 28, 2012
Three Lady Pirates commit to colleges

Courtney Mirabella, Hannah Loyer and Ashley Allard all signed letters of intent to play college softball.

  • East County
  • Schools
David "Watchdog" Miner, a former staple at school board meetings, finally accepted his seat on the dais and said he will continue to push for openness and accountability.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 28, 2012
Dave Miner maintains 'watchdog' status from dais

The new Manatee County School Board member and longtime district critic admits his role will change.

  • East County
  • News
Manatee's application includes funding for technology labs at elementary schools, as well as an addition to Manatee Technical Institute, called the Technology Zone, among other provisions.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 27, 2012
District named grant finalist

The Manatee County School District is in the running for a $28.7 million grant.

  • East County
  • Schools
Members of Team Nail It huddled with excitement, before the start of their next match-up.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Turkey Bowl

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy competed in the school's annual Turkey Bowl competition Nov. 20.

  • East County
  • Schools
Christina Meiser and Aliana Diaz both experienced bullying firsthand. Now, the girls are fighting it with a Facebook page that offers support for bullying victims.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 21, 2012
East County teens tackle bullying problem

Christina Meiser and her friend, Aliana Diaz, have started a Facebook page for victims of bullying.

  • East County
  • Schools
Manatee County’s Velox 1 team partnered with a team from Canada for the world competition. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 14, 2012
East County youth compete globally

Three teenagers recently competed in the F1 in Schools World Finals in Abu Dhabi.

  • East County
  • News
Anthony Caiazzo, No. 12, makes his way down the field Friday, Nov. 9, during the Cardinal Mooney versus The Out-of-Door Academy game at Thunder Stadium.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • November 12, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA v. CMHS final game

High school rivals Cardinal Mooney Cougars and the Out-of-Door Academy Thunder faced off one last time during football season Friday, Nov. 9, at Thunder Stadium. The Thunder held the lead during the first quarter but ultimately lost to the Cougars. The final score was Cardinal Mooney 27, ODA 17.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Students sang a variety of patriotic songs.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 12, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Patriotic Performance

Third-grade students at Bashaw Elementary School showed their patriotism with their musical performance, "Our Country, America" Nov. 8.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Principal Jim Mennes assisted students with ringing the Freedom Bell in the school courtyard at Freedom Elementary School.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 11, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Let Freedom Ring

Freedom Elementary School on Nov. 9 held its annual 'Let Freedom Ring' Courtyard Ceremony, at which students and veterans joined together to raise flags honoring the nation's Armed Forces, sang patriotic songs and learned about the history of Veterans Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Kendall Douley won the cake walk competition.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 10, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA Thunder Fun Day

Out-of-Door Academy held its 7th annual Thunder Fun Day event on Nov. 10. This free event included games, inflatable rides, tournaments, a craft tent, bake sale and more. Trophies were awarded for a chili cook off and cake walk competition.

  • East County
  • News
Gabriel Rodriguez chose a ball over a book.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 10, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Tara Elementary Fall Festival

Tara Elementary School students and their families enjoyed a day outside with friends at the school's annual fall festival Nov. 10. Activities at this free event included a bungee jump, inflatable slide and silent auction, among more. The Tara Elementary School Dance Team also performed.

  • East County
  • Schools
Avery Engelberger, Hannah Wood, Ella Brauch and Mya Brauch
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • November 10, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Freedom Elementary Fall Festival in the Field

Students and parents listened to live music at the Freedom Elementary Fall Concert in the Field. This Parent/Guardian-Teacher Organization (PTO) event, held on Nov. 9 at 6:00 p.m., raised money to help buy school equipment and fund field trips. The event also featured food, drinks and vendors.

  • East County
  • Schools
Daniel Morris played guitar with his grandfather Greg Deas.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • November 10, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Nolan's Got Talent

Nolan Middle School's HOSA Chapter celebrated HOSA Week Nov. 5-9, by sponsoring a special Nolan's Got Talent Show Nov. 8. Performers showed off a variety of talents, including song, dance, piano and more.

  • East County
  • News
Gary Sandler and his sons Alex and Brandon dressed as astronots and played with balloons at the Freedom Elementary Character Dance.
    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • October 30, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Freedom Elementary Character Dance

Freedom Elementary students dressed as their favorite characters at the Character Dance on Oct. 26. Kids dressed as superheroes, pirates, pumpkins, ghouls and more danced to pop songs and ate snow cones. The PTO sponsored event helps fund school activates and materials. Pre ordered tickets cost $3 a person, while tickets at the door sold for $4.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cheerleaders rouse the crowd at the homecoming game.
    By
  • Yaryna Klimchak
  • October 30, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY & VIDEO: Lakewood Ranch High School Homecoming Game

Lakewood Ranch High School lost to Largo High School 38 - 0 on Friday Oct. 26 during their homecoming game. Despite the loss students were in good spirit. The homecoming court tossed candy to eager students after their coronation at half time.

  • East County
  • Sports
Danielle Wilkins, Amber Aikman, Faith Martel and Jaquez Fisher, at the Homecoming Dance.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 29, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Lakewood Ranch Homecoming

Students at Lakewood Ranch High School celebrated Homecoming Oct. 22 through Oct. 27. Weeklong celebrations included spirit days, a bonfire, the Homecoming game and a dance.

  • East County
  • News
Leila Parks and Abigail Widunas passed out candy during the trunk-or-treat.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 29, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: BRE Harvest Moon Bash

Families at Braden River Elementary School on Oct. 27 enjoyed an evening of trunk-or-treating, carnival-style games, food and fellowship during the school's annual Harvest Moon Bash

  • East County
  • News
Melissa Johnson, No. 2, hits the ball over the net at Haley Preininger, No. 2, and Emily Greenwood, No. 7.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • October 26, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA v. St. Stephen's

The Out-of-Door Academy played St. Stephen's Thursday, Oct. 25, in the finals out at Bradenton Christian. St. Stephen's won the Class 3A-District 10 championship in three sets beating ODA 25-20, 25-13, 25-17.

  • East County
  • Schools
Celia Miller, Caty Castro and Adelaide Mahler watched the game intently Oct. 19.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 21, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: ODA Homecoming

Students at The Out-of-Door Academy enjoyed their Homecoming football game Oct. 19 and dance Oct. 20

  • East County
  • Schools
Ethan Holley, 7, loaded up on breakfast with his dad, Andrew , and brother, Hudson, both not pictured.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 16, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Donuts with Dads

Children at Gene Witt Elementary School feasted on doughnuts Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, as the school's Parent Teacher Organization hosted its annual Donuts with Dads event.

  • East County
  • News
Steve Anderson with his daughter Angelina
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • October 15, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Gullett Elementary Fall Frolic

Gullett Elementary invited students and their families to enjoy an evening of fall festivities Thursday, Oct. 11. Families gathered in the cafeteria to play games, sing karaoke and enjoy some food with their friends.

  • East County
  • Schools
Maya Griffin, 4, was prepared for the rain.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 4, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: BRE 'kids walk and roll'

Families at Braden River Elementary School joined Oct. 3 with Safe Kids WORLDWIDE by participating in the International Walk to School Day. Children and parents walked or rode their bikes to school, despite early morning rain showers.

  • East County
  • News
Parent volunteers Amy Goodman and Denise Radenmacher help student Micah Radenmacher, center, get all the sea creatures from his net.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • October 3, 2012
Aquatic 'ed-venture'

Fifth-grade students from McNeal Elementary learned about marine life during field trips Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, at Coquina Beach.

  • East County
  • News
Maya Huynh
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • October 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Primrose Celebration of Culture

Primrose students donned homemade mustaches, hats and other multicultural garb to celebrate different cultures of the world Friday, Sept. 28. Students split into groups and dressed according to the country they represented. Each group then held hands and sang, 'It's a Small World,' in unison.

  • East County
  • Schools
Heather Fellows and Natalie Fellows
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • October 1, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Gene Witt Sock Hop

Cuffed jeans, poodle skirts and hair grease a plenty filled the cafeteria at Gene Witt Elementary School Friday, Sept. 28, for a 1950s-themed sock hop. Students and parents dressed in clothes from the decade, enjoyed food and drink, danced and played games.

  • East County
  • Schools
Billy Lehman and Carlos Fuentes made sure to bring props to the Homecoming Dance Sept. 27.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 30, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: BRHS Homecoming Events

Students at Braden River High School brandished their school spirit Sept. 24 to Sept. 29, as they celebrated Homecoming Week.

  • East County
  • News
Jen McGloin with Jay Coy were eager to start playing.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 24, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Golf Challenge

Parents and teachers at Gullett Elementary School teed off for education Sept. 22, as they participated in the Fourth Annual Neal Communities Golf Challenge, at the University Park Country Club.

  • East County
  • News
Richie James, No. 2, gets past the Braden River defense during the Braden River versus Riverview game at Braden River.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • September 22, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Braden River vs. Riverview

The Rams played the Pirates Friday, Sept. 21 at Braden River. Riverview won the game 29-6.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Braden River's Sean Murray and his grandfather Walter Walmsley ate McDonald's.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 7, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Grandparents Day Lunch

Children at Braden River Elementary School hosted their grandparents for a special lunch Sept. 7, with the help of the school's Parent Teacher Organization.

  • East County
  • News
Dillon Forbes, center, enjoyed ice cream with his dad, Lee, and friend Gianna Caso, right.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 7, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Ice Cream Social

Families at Tara Elementary School welcomed the new school year Sept. 7, with a special Ice Cream Social hosted by the school's Parent Teacher Organization

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Patti and Ron Nelson ate with their grandson, Blake Nelson.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 7, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Goodies with Grandparents

Children at Kiddie Academy celebrated their grandparents Sept. 7, with a special Goodies with Grandparents event in honor of Grandparent's Day.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Tim McGonegal has served as superintendent of Manatee County Public Schools since January 2009.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • September 5, 2012
Manatee superintendent announces retirement

Tim McGonegal will retire Feb. 28 for personal reasons.

  • East County
  • Schools
Sixteen-year-old Sarah Schoeffel says she loves learning about other cultures.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 22, 2012
Extraordinary Exchange: China

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Schoeffel spent approximately seven weeks in China this summer. The teen was one of 30 students nationwide to earn the scholarship opportunity with the NSLI-Y Scholarship program.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • August 17, 2012
Bradenton Gladiators to give away free school supplies

The Bradenton Gladiators will give away Gladiators School Packs to elementary and middle school children at 12 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Police Athletic League front office, 202 13th Ave. E., Bradenton.

  • East County
  • News
Alyssa Mercado, Cameron Holding and Eloy Serrata eagerly watched the competitions.
    By
  • Pam Eubanks
  • August 3, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Olympic adventures at camp

Children participating in Kiddie Academy's Camp Adventure donned their Olympic spirit this week, participating in Olympic themed competitions, including relay races, long jump, three-legged races and more.

  • East County
  • News
Four-year-old Jordyn Kruse proudly waved her patriotic flag.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • July 4, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: Primrose Red, White and Blue Parade

Nearly 100 children showed their patriotic pride during Primrose School at Lakewood Ranch Town Center's Red, White and Blue Parade July 3.

  • East County
  • News
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