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!
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
⭐ 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.
VPK School Choice 2026
The Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) Division of Early Learning (DEL) is collaborating with FDOE’s Just Read, Florida! office for the eighteenth annual statewide Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! 2026 events. Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! 2026 is scheduled for January 26-30, 2026, so mark your calendars now for this important week of events. This year, our Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! theme is Read, White and Blue: Celebrating 250 Chapters of America!
“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
Advisory Council (SAC) Meetings
September 16, 2025
November 18, 2025
February 3, 2026
April 14, 2026
All SAC meetings are at 5:30 pm in the Media Center.
Consejo Asesor de la Escuela James Tillman
(SAC)
16 de septiembre de 2025
18 de noviembre de 2025
3 de febrero de 2026
14 de abril de 2026
Todas las reuniones de SAC son a las 5:30 pm en el centro de medios.
School uniform policy
Tops: Red, Navy Blue, Black or White polo shirt or Tillman School T-Shirt
Collared shirt can be polos, dress shirts, oxford, blouse, turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks.
Bottoms: Navy blue, Black, or Khaki
Bottoms can be slacks, shorts, skirt, skort or jumper.
No jeans
Waist of garment is to be at student’s waist. If needed belt is to be worn.
Jackets, Sweaters, Coats, etc.
Any jacket, coat or sweater is OK if it meets regular dress code.
Any jacket, coat or sweater must be worn with a collared uniform shirt or Tillman School T-shirt underneath.
Other dress code rules:
Clothes must be appropriate size.
Shoes will be safe and appropriate. Closed shoes are preferred. Crocs/Flip flops are not permitted. Student should wear socks with shoes.
Tillman school shirts can be purchased through:
Manatee Apparel
1104 9th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205
(941) 746-6353
Thank you so much for your patience this first week of school. We will be moving as quickly as possible but could use your help with a couple of things to make the line move as quickly as possible.
Car Riders at arrival time:
1. Students may not be dropped off prior to 7:50, please remain in the cars until 7:50 when a staff is present.
2. Students need to be dropped off in the car loop rather than be walked up through the parking lot.
3. Cars need to pull all the way down when unloading to allow for multiple cars to unload at a time.
4. Adults are asked to stay in their cars during arrival. *We know some students need assistance getting out they will need to pull all the way down.
5. Car riders is over at 8:20am. Any students arriving after 8:20 will be asked to be signed in by family in the office.
Car Riders at dismissal time:
1. Please have your yellow car rider form filled out in front right side of your dashboard with students' first and last names and grade level.
2. Leave that sign in the dashboard until all students are in the car (if we have to re-call your child, it's still there and visible).
3. Whenever possible, please make arrangements for your child to be able to load from the right side of the car for everyone's safety.
4. Please pull up to close any gaps between your car and the car in front of you. This helps us keep the line moving forward.
Thank you so much for your patience and support to keep our students safe.
