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“Good Things Happening Around the Manatee County School District”
STORY IDEAS--PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Contact: Michael Barber, Press Relations (941) 708-8770, ext. 2283
Bradenton, FL - April 17, 2008
SUGG MIDDLE REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY WITH READ TO FEED PROGRAM
Read to Feed is a month-long project at Sugg Middle School where students and staff are working to donate 1 million grains of rice to a local food bank. The school hopes to amass that amount of rice with the help of local business sponsors and by going to freerice.com, a website where practicing vocabulary skills helps raise the rice count. The school is keeping track of its progress with a thermometer posted on the wall near the school´s media center. For more information, contact Sugg Media Specialist Sheila Walker at 741-3157, ext. 2050.
FIFTH-GRADE AUTHOR AT BRADEN RIVER PENS AWARD-WINNING PLAY
The Florida Studio Theater announced that Noah Smith, a fifth-grade student at Braden River Elementary, beat out more than 9,200 competitors to win a play writing contest. Titled “I Can´t Miss!” Noah´s play was chosen the winner of the Under 6th Grade category of the 2008 Young Playwright´s Festival. Five other Braden River Elementary students received awards in the contest: Taylor Shilling, Meghan Grabowski, Ryan Smith, Read Corley and Trey Minarich. For more information, contact Kathy Keebler at 751-7012, ext. 208.
THE MUSIC AND ART OF AFRICA HIGHLIGHT BASHAW ELEMENTARY FESTIVAL
The students and staff at Bashaw Elementary invite parents, family members and the public to enjoy the wonderful music and art of Africa at the school´s Art and Music Festival, scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. The festival will include art demonstrations, musical performances, refreshments and door prizes. Bashaw Elementary is located at 3515 Morgan Johnson Road. For more information, contact Bashaw Principal Minnie King at 741-3307.
MANATEE DISTRICT STUDENTS HEADING TO STATE TSA COMPETITION
More than 175 students from district middle and high schools will compete in the Technology Student Association´s State Conference in Orlando, April 23-26, 2008. These imaginative students compete in innovative contests featuring robot cars, rubber-band powered airplanes and more. The Manatee contingent is traditionally the largest in the state and routinely wins more top awards than any other district. Winners at the state competition qualify for the national TSA competition to be held June 28-July 2, 2008 in Orlando. For more details, contact District Public Information Officer Margi Nanney at 708-8770, ext. 2046.
SPEND A SWEET EVENING WATCHING WILLY WONKA JR. AT NOLAN MIDDLE
Willy Wonka Jr. is coming to Nolan Middle! Students at Nolan will perform the scrumptiously delicious play April 25-26, 2008 at 7 p.m. There will also be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. Tickets are $5 for ages five and up and the play will be performed in the school´s cafetorium. Nolan Middle is located at 6615 Greenbrook Blvd. in Lakewood Ranch. For more information, call 751-8200, ext. 254.
MILLS FRIENDS AND FAMILY NIGHT SET TO SEE THE STORM SLAY DRAGONS
Families and friends of Mills Elementary are heading to an Arena Football League game between the New York Dragons and the Tampa Bay Storm on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the St Pete Times Forum. Besides being a fundraising event for Mills, the evening promises to forge stronger bonds between families and staff at the school and reinforces the school´s theme for the year, “Taking the Adventure to Heart” which emphasizes the health benefits of exercise and sports. For more information, contact Mills 5th Grade Teacher Peter Rodewald at 721-2140, ext. 244.