BRADENTON – Stewart Elementary School, 7905 15th Ave. N.W., has opened its doors to Anna Maria Elementary (AME) students temporarily beginning on Monday, Sept. 30.
In a Saturday afternoon email to Stewart parents, Principal Joe Hougland wrote: “First, I hope you and your families are safe and any damage to your homes is minimal. The same can’t be said for our friends on Anna Maria Island,” the email stated.
Hougland said the Manatee County School District is aware of the serious challenges Anna Maria Elementary faces following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.
“Due to the conditions on the Island and at the school, they will not be able to have classes on the AME campus until the situation on the Island substantially improves,” he wrote.
He noted the importance of getting children back to school. With that in mind, he has been working on a plan with the school district and AME Principal Dr. Katie Fradley for Stewart to host students and staff from AME until they can resume classes on the Island.
“We have room to accommodate them, and we have come up with a plan to keep all students learning and create minimal disruption to the daily school schedule,” Hougland wrote. Starting Monday, Sept. 30th, AME students and staff will relocate to Stewart Elementary temporarily.”
Stewart students and teachers will share existing classrooms with AME students and teachers in a team teaching model to continue education for both schools.
“We have been working with the school district and the AME team on details to make this temporary educational model work,” he wrote.
At morning drop-off and dismissal, the Anna Maria Elementary parents will use the South Catalina neighborhood loop for their students. Stewart families will use the regular car rider line on 15th Ave N.W. Stewart Elementary parents are asked to not use the South Catalina neighborhood entrance in order to keep school arrivals separate.
AME students will begin their dismissal early to lessen the impact on the Stewart car line. Families arriving by golf cart or low-speed vehicles are asked to exercise additional caution due to the increased congestion in the area. Parents and guardians also are not able to attend breakfast or lunch with their students while Stewart and AME are temporarily combined due to lack of space.
“We appreciate your patience and support as we welcome the AME family to our amazing campus,” Hougland stated in the email. “Please do what you can to make them feel welcome and help, if necessary.”
HOLMES BEACH – As children stock up on supplies and pick out their perfect outfits for the first day of school, Anna Maria Elementary School staff, including the new incoming principal, Katie Fradley, are working to make AME the best it can be for an exciting year of learning.
The Sun spoke to Fradley about what is in store for students this year.
With the first day of school coming Monday, Aug. 12, what are you doing to prepare?
Fradley: We have been working all summer to prepare our campus for our students’ safe return on Aug. 12. Our playground has seen some updates this summer. We had a new back stop installed, repaired some sidewalk damage and will be replacing clay and grass on the field. We are also in the process of adding fencing to our car rider drop off area that will ensure a safe environment at arrival and dismissal. We are incredibly excited about our new teaching and learning deck. It will have been worth the wait! The deck will be completed this fall and will provide an outdoor teaching space that includes a portable touch tank for our students to complete marine biology lessons and experiments overlooking the bay.
Is there anything special planned for the first day?
Fradley: We will welcome our families to campus for Open House on Thursday, Aug. 8. During Open House they will meet their teacher and staff and visit with friends. Then we are so excited to welcome our students back on Aug. 12! On the first day of school, we will host a “Meet and Greet” for our kindergarten parents and the parents of new students in our auditorium at 8:30 a.m. This is an AME tradition and is a perfect opportunity to introduce our leadership team and share information about our incredible school with our newest dolphins.
AME has many annual events such as Peace Day. As a new principal, do you have anything new planned for this year?
Fradley: I am looking forward to continuing well-loved AME traditions such as Peace Day as well as bringing some new events to campus. Our school wide theme this year is, “Dolphins make a difference.” As a school community we will be exploring what we can each do to make a difference in our school, community and our world. We will be sharing more information on this exciting initiative after the students return.
What do you hope to bring to AME as you begin your first year as principal?
Fradley: As I look forward to my first year as principal of AME, I hope to bring positive energy and a passion for making a difference to our school. I look forward to strengthening our enrollment, continuing our history of strong academic achievement and helping our teachers to inspire our students to make a difference in their school, community and the world.
HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners have approved changes for the school zone in front of Anna Maria Elementary School, but drivers won’t notice them until school begins on Aug. 12.
A new ordinance will expand the school zone by 300 yards – 200 to the south and 100 to the north. The area will be restriped and flashing signs will be moved to alert drivers of the lowered speed limit during school hours in the mornings and afternoons.
A no-cost camera system also will be installed by Blue Line Solutions to catch speeders through the school zone during the same hours before and after school when children are likely to be crossing the street. At a previous public hearing, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the camera system would only be used to catch and issue tickets to speeders during times when the flashing beacons are in use to indicate an active school zone.
In the agreement with Blue Line, the city could choose to either pay a service fee to the company of $25 per ticket, taken out of the ticket cost to a speeding driver, or lease the camera system. In messages to The Sun, Tokajer said the city had chosen the service fee agreement.
Once the system is active, he said speeding tickets during school zone hours will cost drivers $100 with $25 of that going to Blue Line, $40 to the city, $20 to the state of Florida, $12 to a school fund and $3 to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s criminal justice training program. A nominal processing fee of $4-5 may also be charged by Blue Line for processing credit card payments.
HOLMES BEACH – The School for Constructive Play (SCP) has been an Island landmark for decades, with hundreds of little feet walking through the school’s doors over the years.
The original preschool opened in 1989, and the institution as so many know it has been under the thoughtful care of Pam Bertrand.
Bertrand started at SCP as a substitute teacher and raised three of her children in the original little schoolhouse on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria. In 1995, she started working full-time at the school, eventually running the programs.
A decade later, she had the opportunity to buy the school from Maria Richards, and, as Bertrand says, “The rest is history.”
Fast forward two decades later and a move to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach, and Manatee County native Kelly Stewart is ready to step into the shoes of “Teacher Pam” as the new owner of the School for Constructive Play.
Stewart, a former student at the preschool and graduate of Manatee High School, started working as a full-time teacher in 2019. With a good amount of the early childhood education curriculum completed, Stewart said, “I decided to take a job at the preschool when Teacher Rainia moved,” after Bertrand asked for her assistance while the search for a new teacher began. The temporary job soon became permanent, and the next chapter of the preschool began.
“When Teacher Pam asks you for something, you say absolutely, what do you need?” Stewart said.
Stewart’s life at the School for Constructive Play began by entering Teacher Pam’s classroom when she was only a year old in 1997 and continued until she graduated from the school to attend Anna Maria Elementary School. The family history of working or attending the school included Stewart’s brother, Cory, who started at SCP when he was 3 years old.
New School for Constructive Play owner Kelly Stewart (top row, far left) with her class and teacher Pam Bertrand, circa 2001. – Submitted
Stewart would often find herself walking through the doors to help, volunteer or visit, and eventually, work. Currently working with the 1- and 2-year-olds, Stewart recalls having frequent conversations with Bertrand about the love of the school and the people who make it so special.
Even a short move recently to California could not keep her away from the SCP. Quickly moving back, the final decision was made that she would be the successor to the tradition of the preschool, with big shoes to fill.
Those who have raised their kids in the area have heard the legendary stories surrounding the fun the children have had over the years at the preschool. Not only the parents and students have fond memories of Teacher Pam, but the teachers who have worked with and for her consider her family.
Friends and co-workers Barb Burgess and Chrissy McCracken have had years of working side by side with Bertrand. Burgess said, “Pam is like a sister from another mother… truly an amazing friend, mom and teacher.”
“Teacher Pam is such a strong woman, is always smiling and has one of the kindest hearts you will ever come across,” McCracken said.
More recent additions to the teaching staff are equally as fond of Teacher Pam. Long-time SCP parent, friend and now teacher Dina Franklin recalls her son’s experience.
“Tyler was so lucky to have had the experience of learning and growing up in SCP with Pam and all the other wonderful teachers during that time.”
One of the newer teachers, Gracie Lewis, expressed her memories of Teacher Pam.
“(She) welcomed me with open arms and always treated me like family,” she said. Recalling the respect everyone has for Bertrand, Lewis said, “When Teacher Pam asks you to get into the dumpster, you get into the dumpster.”
Countless former parents, students and SCP teachers have the same sentiments toward Teacher Pam. Former students who eventually became teachers at the preschool, Rainia Lardas and Gussie Lardas, definitely echo the message of their counterparts.
“Pam is my forever boss. She is not only so knowledgeable but also so kind,” Rainia Lardas said. To this day, Bertrand is her first phone call if she has a question about childcare.
Gussie Lardas, now an elementary school teacher in Manatee County, recalls, “I have known Pam my whole life. She gave me my first job at SCP when I was 16. Working at the preschool with Pam has taught me a lot about the type of teacher I want to be for my students.”
For Bertrand, the small events that made the students excited about learning are highlights of a wonderful career. From visits by farm animals, firemen and Santa Claus to learning to write their names, each memory lives bright in her mind.
Stewart plans to continue the preschool’s traditions and environment of fun while learning. While she plans to stay in the classroom during the transition, she hopes to be able to focus on developing the program and strengthening the school. Staying as a familiar face in the classroom and being a support to all of the teachers is important to her.
Accepting children as young as a year old, SCP prepares Island area kids for elementary school with VPK classes for 4- and 5-year-old children. The preschool has more than 15 years of VPK instructional experience with limited seating each year.
Stewart hopes the school can eventually bring back the afterschool program for young elementary school students.
“My goal is to grow and eventually expand SCP while maintaining that sparkle that makes this place so special,” Stewart said.
“Turning the preschool over to Kelly Stewart is an honor,” Bertrand said.
Preparing to hand over the brightly lit torch for the School for Constructive Play, she sends a message to the Island community.
“I could never thank the parents enough for allowing me to be a part of their child’s life,” she said. “I have truly been blessed. All of the children have given me so much joy and happiness. Their love, humor and pure honesty is unmatched. I have had the best job. I shouldn’t even call it a job, it’s joy.”
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