Prine Elementary

Spring into STEAM at The Soar Lab!

Looking for something fun and educational to do during Spring Break? The Soar Lab will be OPEN the week of March 16th through 20th while schools are closed, offering hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity.

Young learners can explore a variety of exciting themes throughout the week, including science, art, space, math, drama, and technology—all through interactive play and discovery.

Best of all, The Soar Lab is free for most families with children from infants through third grade.

Tuesday, March 17 - 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. (Mad Scientist)
Wednesday, March 18 - 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (Art-a-Palooza)
Thursday, March 19 - 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. (Space)
Friday, March 20 - 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (Math Mania)
Saturday, March 21 - 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (Drama & Technology-Coding)

📍 6423 9th Street East, Bradenton

Visit www.soarin4.org for more information.

Bring your little explorers and let them learn, create, and imagine at The Soar Lab this Spring Break!

🌴☀️ Spring Break Is Almost Here, Manatee County! ☀️🌴

Students and staff in the School District of Manatee County will be enjoying a well-deserved Spring Break March 16–20, 2026. Time to recharge, relax, and maybe soak up a little Florida sunshine!

📅 Reminder: Because of a scheduled Record Day, students will return to school on Tuesday, March 24.

Whether you’re traveling, spending time with family, or simply enjoying a slower week at home, we hope our SDMC families have a safe and fun break!

Need to check important dates? You can always find the full district calendar here:
🔗 https://www.manateeschools.net/page/calendars

#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.

Hour of Code was celebrated during Computer Science Education Week, December 8–14, 2025. Hour of Code is a global movement designed to introduce millions of students to computer science and show that anyone can learn the basics of coding.

According to STEM Coordinator Lynne Johnston, teachers across the district incorporated coding into their classrooms throughout the week.

Mrs. Sara Broom shared photos of R. H. Prine Elementary School fifth-grade students investigating coding and exploring how it can be used for more than just video games and apps. Students learned how coding can be used to create and draft music. After coding their own musical compositions, students presented “table concerts” for the class to showcase their creations.

Kinnan Elementary STEM teacher Tammy Butler also shared photos of her students working with Ozobots, which are small, programmable robots that teach coding and computational thinking through hands-on, interactive activities. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

In honor of National First Responders Day, School District of Manatee County Food and Nutrition Services invited first responders to eat lunch with students at 11 elementary schools across Manatee County. At R. H. Prine Elementary School, first responders from Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue sat shoulder-to-shoulder with kindergarten through fifth graders, talking about everything from Halloween costumes to math problems. For the students, it was a chance to ask questions, say thank you and see their community heroes up close. A simple lunch. A meaningful connection. A day our students won’t forget. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Spend just five minutes with Tania Vidal from School District of Manatee County Food and Nutrition Services, and it feels like flipping open a page of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her warmth, humor, and heart for children have made her a beloved figure at Prine Elementary School, where she’s been serving breakfast, lunch (and a whole lot of love!) for the past 28 years.

It all began when Tania’s own children were students at Prine. Living just across the street, she was already a familiar face on campus as a daily volunteer. Then came the thought that changed everything:
"I figured, I might as well get paid if I’m going to be up here all the time."

So, she joined the cafeteria team as a four-hour food service worker. Fast forward nearly three decades, and she’s now the school’s cafeteria manager, a role she’s held for the past 12 years. But ask anyone at Prine, and they'll tell you: Tania is much more than her title.

She’s the one in the colorful hat. The tutu. The costume. Whatever it takes to bring joy to the kids.

“We do a lot of theme days and special events,” she says with a proud smile. “First Responders Day is one of my favorites. The firefighters come in and eat with the kids. It’s a big deal for them.”

Her energy is contagious, and her love for students is unwavering. That’s what also led her to volunteer with Girls on the Run, an extracurricular club that empowers girls through movement.

“I love showing them that a 63-year-old can still get out there, stretch, and have some fun,” she laughs. “They get a real kick out of me in my tutus.”

Tania and her cafeteria crew don’t just feed Prine students. They also prepare meals for a local private school and charter school. And yes, when she shows up in full costume to deliver lunches, she’s met with cheers and hugs.

She’s now feeding the children and grandchildren of former students, a legacy that humbles and delights her. She shares a favorite memory from a visit to Walmart with her late husband, when a little boy couldn’t take his eyes off her. He tugged on his mother’s pants and whispered, “She’s the one.” When his mother asked who he meant, he answered without hesitation:
“She’s the one who cooks better than you!”

Even in the grocery store, Tania gets questions about lunch balances, though she laughs and gently reminds people, “I deal with 800 students. I can’t tell you how much little Johnny has on his account.”

But even with the long days, the laughter, and the occasional costume, what Tania talks about most is her team.

“I am so extremely fortunate. I have a true team effort here,” she says. “Everybody steps up and helps anybody that needs help.”

Even when they’re short-staffed, even when the day gets tough, the cafeteria crew keeps going. Staff from across the school have been known to jump in with hairnets and gloves to help when needed. Because at Prine, that’s just how things are done.

“This is what I live for... working here,” Tania says, eyes lighting up. “I really do. I love it.”

And judging by the generations of students who still remember her, laugh with her, and feel cared for in her cafeteria, the love she gives has never gone unnoticed. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Happy Fri-Yay 🎉 Meet Guardian Thomas, known as “Biggie” to his R. H. Prine Elementary School family. From transporting fugitives near St. Louis to turning frowns upside down in Bradenton, this School Safety Guardian has done it all. A retired Jefferson County, Missouri sheriff’s deputy, he is now serving his third school year keeping the Patriots safe. A proud grandfather, he finds true joy in making sure students leave school happy, safe, and worry-free — “knowing at school they can just be a kid.” The caring school community has embraced him as one of their own and you can see it in the hallways, where students and staff greet him fondly and jokingly during his daily rounds. As he puts it, “If I can come to work every day and make a kid smile, I know I’ve done my job.” Thanks to Biggie and all our guardian heroes for protecting our schools. #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

Bradenton Police Chief Josh Cramer joined Mayor Gene Brown and members of the department on Wednesday to officially pin badges on Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary’s school safety patrols. “May this be the first of many badges you wear in your lifetime,” said Chief Cramer. As their peers watched proudly on, these fifth grade leaders took the pledge to promote safety and lead by example. What made the moment even more special? Many of the leaders doing the pinning once wore those very same badges as students: ⭐ Mayor Gene Brown – Bayshore Elementary ⭐ Assistant Chief Brian Thiers – Stewart Elementary ⭐ Captain Dennis Stahley – Prine Elementary We're proud of these fifth-grade leaders, and all Manatee County safety patrols, who show up every day to keep their classmates safe. Your service matters! 🙌🚸 #ManateeSchoolsGoodNews

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.