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Schools

The Braden River High Marching Band of Pirates finished fifth at the Florida Marching Band Championships on Nov. 11.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2023
Parrish, Braden River High marching bands place high at state championships

Pride of Parrish Marching Band finished third while Marching Band of Pirates earned the fifth-place trophy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Heidi Stenberg, Caymen Corscadden and Calli Phillips, seniors at Lakewood Ranch High School, are ready to take on the Big Bank Theory to see if they can balance the budget of their fictional lives.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 11, 2023
Financial literacy program gives Manatee students look at real world

Manatee Chamber of Commerce offers high school seniors an exercise in balancing a budget with the Big Bank Theory program.

  • East County
  • Schools
Can you match the character pumpkin to the book title?
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • November 8, 2023
Can you match the character pumpkin to the book title?

McNeal Elementary first graders decorate pumpkins to look like characters from fictional books.

  • East County
  • Schools
Rishik Yellu, Felix Ratner, Yatharth Kakkad and Rugan Suresh
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 6, 2023
Pine View School students' science project to travel to space

A project by four Pine View School students will be among a series of student experiments carried out on the International Space Station.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Laurie Fevrier, an eighth grader at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, can't wait to show her artwork for the first time at the Manatee River Artists Guild at Waterlefe Art and Craft Show and Sale.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 30, 2023
Local students to display artwork at Manatee River Artists Guild show

Freedom Elementary and Haile Middle students will present their work in the annual art show for the first time.

  • East County
  • Schools
The new K-8 school will have a two-story elementary building, a one-story middle school building and a capacity of approximately 1,620 students.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 27, 2023
Design unveiled for new K-8 school in Lakewood Ranch

The Manatee County school will include a two-story elementary building, a one-story middle school building and agriculture facilities.

  • East County
  • Schools
Justice Thornton, a Manatee Technical College baking and pastry arts student, slices kiwis and strawberries.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 23, 2023
MTC students prepare for Suncoast Food and Wine Fest

Baking and pastry arts students get a real-world experience baking desserts for a Lakewood Ranch staple event.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Nathaniel Gruhl and Hayden Wilding were named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 23, 2023
Two Sarasota High students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Only 16,000 students out of 1.3 million nationwide earned the honor.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy freshman Daniel Valderrama has built a bond with second grader Vladimir Bruges.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 22, 2023
East County school buddies share important lessons

The partnerships have proven valuable in learning lessons about responsibility and communication.

  • East County
  • Schools
Cedric Saunders played football at Ohio State University and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Bucs, and later the Detroit Lions, in a off-field capacity.
    By
  • Ryan Kohn
  • October 19, 2023
Sarasota High School inducts 6 graduates into Hall of Fame

The inductees included Sarasota's first Black mayor, pro athletes and a science researcher.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Marjorie Peter speaks against the map proposal.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 19, 2023
Sarasota School Board aligns with County Commission district map

The board also voted to pass its 2024 legislative agenda.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Waterlefe's Glenda Myers works with Ballard Elementary kindergartner Kemora Wallace once per week through the Books for Kids Kindergarten program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2023
Lakewood Ranch Rotary kicks off ninth year of Books for Kids program

The Books for Kids Kindergarten program, which helps students discover a love for reading and increases reading scores, is expanding into more Manatee and Sarasota County classrooms this school year.

  • East County
  • Schools
Lakewood Ranch High School's Andrew Boudreau and Tyler Patten give it their all during a performance.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 18, 2023
Manatee County high school marching bands gear up for state competition

The Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and Parrish bands are concentrated on growth in hopes of earning a medal at the top level.

  • East County
  • Schools
Ellenton's Barbara Bostrom, the niece of Gilbert McNeal, Lakewood Ranch's Jessica Chmielarski, the granddaughter of McNeal, and Dylan and Michael Chmielarski, the great-grandsons of McNeal, celebrate his legacy at Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School's 20th anniversary.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 17, 2023
McNeal Elementary School celebrates 20th anniversary

Teachers, students and administrators, past and present, celebrate 20 years of learning and making memories.

  • East County
  • Schools
Molly Garrett and Thea Pham sing "A Distant Shore." They are among 55 students in Haile Middle School's new choir program.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • October 12, 2023
Haile Middle School in east Bradenton begins new choir program

Students are preparing for their first concert in December.

  • East County
  • Schools
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Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
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