Palma Sola Elementary
Home of the Panthers
Dear Teachers, Here's a special message from Dr. Laurie Breslin regarding Teacher Appreciation Week.
https://vimeo.com/1184919879/fdb68f2a7f
#ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
On Tuesday, students at Palma Sola Elementary School, including 4th and 5th grade, gifted, and STEM classes, returned to campus to find newly renovated classrooms waiting for them! ✨
A special shout-out to the school district staff and teachers who are making the magic happen during the school year. This transformation isn’t over yet… construction continues, so stay tuned for more exciting updates!
Palma Sola 2026 Spring Spirit Week was EPIC!!!! Thank you to everyone who made it so awesome - and we hope everyone in our Palma Sola Family has a fantastic Spring Break! We can't wait to see you back at school on Tuesday, March 24th!!!!
More than a dozen teachers, staff, and both administrators from Palma Sola Elementary School are waking up with fresh ink. Their new “tattoos” feature everything from sea creatures and puppies to monster trucks and unicorns. All for a good cause, of course. Students who reached a fundraising goal got to #TattooATeacher ✨ Total raised for United Way Suncoast = $900+ #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
Throughout our kindergarten program, we aim to build six key skills in our students, setting them up for success on the rest of their educational journey:
⭐ Resilience
⭐ Integrity
⭐ Critical Thinking
⭐ Communication
⭐ Awareness
⭐ Adaptability
Enroll your child in Manatee County kindergarten and give them the strong start they deserve!
Get started at https://www.manateeschools.net/o/sdmc/page/registration.
⭐ Resilience
⭐ Integrity
⭐ Critical Thinking
⭐ Communication
⭐ Awareness
⭐ Adaptability
Enroll your child in Manatee County kindergarten and give them the strong start they deserve!
Get started at https://www.manateeschools.net/o/sdmc/page/registration.
Young performers, music educators, and families from approximately 30 schools came together on February 26, 2026, at Braden River High School for the All County Elementary Music Festival.
Manatee Schools Television was there for the rehearsals held at Johnson K-8: https://vimeo.com/1168251040/b4292df969
Watch the entire 2026 All County Elementary Music Festival at this link: https://vimeo.com/1168251040
Looking for something meaningful and fun to do with your children, ages infant through third grade, this week?
The Soar in 4 Soar Lab is more than a place to visit. It’s a place where families learn how to play together.
Through hands-on activities, interactive learning stations, and guided exploration, parents and caregivers discover simple ways to spark curiosity, build confidence, and turn everyday moments into powerful learning experiences.
Come explore! Create. Laugh. Learn.
Visit www.soarin4.org to plan your experience.
6423 9th Street East, Bradenton 34203
Free for most families.
This week's schedule:
Tuesday, March 3rd - Open 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (Musical Motion, Artist Spotlight, Ms. Luanne's Front Porch)
Wednesday, March 4th - Open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Nursery Rhyme Scavenger Hunt, Artist Spotlight)
Thursday, March 5th - Open 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (Nature Detectives, 3D Printing)
Friday, March 6th - Open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Storytime, Bubbles & Trikes, Little Explorers)
Saturday, March 7th - Open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Mighty Machines & Special Guest: Teacher Author Kelly Kolomiychenko with Slime @ 11 a.m.)
The Florida Department of Education released the Florida Value Added Model (VAM) Fiscal Transparency Tool, a web-based fiscal transparency tool that identifies public schools and districts with high academic achievement based on the ratio of classroom expenditures to total expenditures. VAM is intended to help taxpayers evaluate the financial efficiency of a school district with other similarly situated school districts. View the VAM for the School District of Manatee County at https://floridavam.org/e/vamPublic.html?w4=54#/entity/262385.
Meet Shawn, one of our dedicated School Safety Guardians in Manatee County. A proud local, Shawn’s roots run deep in this community. He attended Oneco Elementary School, Harllee Middle, and graduated from Bayshore High School.
After an impressive 30-year law enforcement career, beginning with the Bradenton Police Department and concluding with the Tampa Police Department, Shawn returned home two years ago to continue serving—this time, protecting students and staff.
Every morning, Shawn can be found at Palma Sola Elementary School, greeting students with high-fives and smiles during drop-off. It’s his favorite part of the day, and it shows. His caring nature and connection with students make a lasting impact, especially on those who need a little extra support.
When asked about the best part of being a guardian, Shawn shared a story that speaks volumes about his heart:
“The other day, I helped a little boy put his shoe on, and he remembered me from about a month ago. You don’t often get a lot of responses out of children with special needs. After I put his shoe on, he grabbed me by the hand and led me to the swing because he remembered me pushing him before. It’s little stuff like that.”
Outside of school, Shawn is eagerly expecting his first grandchild in January, and it’s clear that family means everything to him. In fact, education runs in the family; his brother is a PE teacher at another elementary school in the district.
Thank you, Shawn, for your dedication, compassion, and commitment to keeping our students and staff safe. You are a true hometown hero! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #GoodNewsGuardians
After an impressive 30-year law enforcement career, beginning with the Bradenton Police Department and concluding with the Tampa Police Department, Shawn returned home two years ago to continue serving—this time, protecting students and staff.
Every morning, Shawn can be found at Palma Sola Elementary School, greeting students with high-fives and smiles during drop-off. It’s his favorite part of the day, and it shows. His caring nature and connection with students make a lasting impact, especially on those who need a little extra support.
When asked about the best part of being a guardian, Shawn shared a story that speaks volumes about his heart:
“The other day, I helped a little boy put his shoe on, and he remembered me from about a month ago. You don’t often get a lot of responses out of children with special needs. After I put his shoe on, he grabbed me by the hand and led me to the swing because he remembered me pushing him before. It’s little stuff like that.”
Outside of school, Shawn is eagerly expecting his first grandchild in January, and it’s clear that family means everything to him. In fact, education runs in the family; his brother is a PE teacher at another elementary school in the district.
Thank you, Shawn, for your dedication, compassion, and commitment to keeping our students and staff safe. You are a true hometown hero! #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews #GoodNewsGuardians
Being a school principal is sometimes a dirty job, but somebody AWESOME has to do it! On Friday, Principal Jennie Grimes (front left) and Asst. Principal Heather Sills became human ice cream sundaes in the spirit of school fundraising.
A member of the Palma Sola Elementary School family recently wrote this about Jennie Grimes:
“Mrs. Grimes is the heartbeat of our little community school. She wants the best for all of her students, supports her staff, created an environment where they’re thriving with active construction on campus, and is always willing to be fun and goofy for the students! She keeps parents informed, is a great communicator, and exemplary leader on campus.
She is accessible, kind, and innovative - always striving towards improvement and new ideas for our PSE community. So lucky to be a Panther! 🐾 💙 💛”
We couldn’t agree more! Thank for all you do, Mrs. Grimes. #NationalPrincipalsMonth #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
A member of the Palma Sola Elementary School family recently wrote this about Jennie Grimes:
“Mrs. Grimes is the heartbeat of our little community school. She wants the best for all of her students, supports her staff, created an environment where they’re thriving with active construction on campus, and is always willing to be fun and goofy for the students! She keeps parents informed, is a great communicator, and exemplary leader on campus.
She is accessible, kind, and innovative - always striving towards improvement and new ideas for our PSE community. So lucky to be a Panther! 🐾 💙 💛”
We couldn’t agree more! Thank for all you do, Mrs. Grimes. #NationalPrincipalsMonth #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
On Friday, Palma Sola Elementary pulled out all the stops to celebrate their beloved crossing guard, Maggie Pappa, on her 92nd birthday! 🎂💐 The devoted matriarch and lifelong Pittsburgh fan also stays active and healthy by being a fixture at LECOM Park during Pirates’ spring training and the Bradenton Marauders’ baseball season. More than two decades and running! See how the community came together to honor her kindness and spirit at https://www.manateeschools.net/goodnews We love you too, Ms. Maggie! 💛🖤
“How Tall Are You... in Spoons?” 📏🖐️🥄
The Soar Lab is growing, and so are our students!
It's the perfect place for families with infants and kids through third grade. Admission is free for qualifying families.
Stop by during our NEW extended hours to see just how tall you are (measured in spoons, hands, or blocks).
Soar Lab Hours:
Tuesday: 3 – 7 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM – 1 PM
Thursday: 3 – 7 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 1 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 6413 9th Street East, Bradenton
🔗 https://www.soarin4.org/soar-lab
Come for the measurements. Stay for the momentum. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
✨ A perfect day to celebrate Grandmas and Pop Pops, Nanas and Abuelos! ✨
Palma Sola Elementary School held their annual Grandparents Day luncheon on Monday, bringing families together from Michigan to Lakewood Ranch.
This heartwarming tradition is a beautiful opportunity for grandparents to spend quality time with their grandchildren #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
Palma Sola Elementary is celebrating Color Days all month long in support of our pre-K and kindergarten students learning their colors! On Wednesday, the whole campus was decked out in red. This year’s school theme ties in with campus construction: “Building Memories, One Brick at a Time!” 🧱✨
Shoutout to Paul (right) and D (left), a pair of dedicated school district plumbers with nearly 60 years of service combined! They were hard at work at Palma Sola Elementary School on Wednesday, keeping things running for students and staff. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews
Messages may come as "Potential Spam" and we don’t want you to miss any important updates! You can view the messages in your Focus app or in the Focus Parent Portal.
Please let us know if you have any questions - we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!
https://www.manateeschools.net/o/sdmc/page/mysdmc-focus-app
Please let us know if you have any questions - we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!
https://www.manateeschools.net/o/sdmc/page/mysdmc-focus-app
Registration for Palma Sola Elementary School’s Panther Care (EDEP Program) will be on Wednesday, July 30th from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. Registration requires completion of the registration packet by the enrolling parent/guardian (all items must be initialed and signed). Payment of the nonrefundable registration fee is required plus the first week’s payment.
Space is limited per grade level, and we will place your child’s name on a waitlist on a first come first served basis once all seats are filled. For more information, please visit https://www.manateeschools.net/o/palmasola/page/panther-care-extended-day-program
Space is limited per grade level, and we will place your child’s name on a waitlist on a first come first served basis once all seats are filled. For more information, please visit https://www.manateeschools.net/o/palmasola/page/panther-care-extended-day-program
Security Screening at Secondary Schools – Beginning Monday, August 11, 2025, all students and visitors at district middle and high schools will be screened each school day using a high-tech security scanner system.
For more information on this enhanced security screening procedure, visit https://www.manateeschools.net/securityscreening.
School Board Seeks Civic-Minded Citizens to Join Audit Committee –
The School Board of Manatee County is seeking civic-minded citizens to serve as members of the Audit Committee. The Committee, which meets six times a year, recommends the appointment of the internal and external auditors; reviews the scope, plan and reports of the internal and external auditors; and assists in maintaining open communications between the selected auditors, the School Board and the District’s financial management. The Committee also reviews the collection and proper use of the funds raised through the one-half cent sales surtax for school capital outlay expenditures. Membership on the Committee requires an average of five-to-eight hours per month, with meetings scheduled every other month for three hours. The term is approximately three years.
Those interested in serving must:
• Live in Manatee County.
• Be a CPA (active or retired) or had employment experience in school district financial operations.
• Submit a letter expressing interest, provide contact information and provide a brief summary of their work experience.
Responses must be sent to the Manatee County School District, Attention: School Board Agency Clerk, P.O. Box 9069, Bradenton, Florida 34206-9069.
Interested individuals may obtain additional information about the Committee by emailing the School Board Agency Administrative Associate at cox3l@manateeschools.net.
Family Empowerment Scholarship – Parents interested in applying for either FES-EO or FES-UA may review the eligibility requirements and application instructions at https://www.manateeschools.net/FES.