projects out of cardboard, all while having
tons of fun. “Our goal is to involve more
community members and organizations
next year to make it even bigger and
better for our families,” she adds.
The Task force is also in the early stages
of forming a community tinkering studio,
initiated by their Soar in 4 team. “We are
looking forward to making an interactive
and engaging tinkering studio available to
our early learners and their families this
summer,” Thompson says.
In other exciting news, the team is also
Summit for the community. “It is an
event that was well-attended in the past
but has not been in our community for
several years,” Thompson says. “We are
bringing it back! Rather than have one
agency do all the work, it is going to be a
collaborative effort across agencies and
and their families.”
POWERFUL PROGRAMS
is on a mission to put young learners on
the road to success. Here are just a few
The Teaching Opportunity Progression
Program (TOPPS): This partnership
between the School Dist r ict of
Manatee and State College of Florida
Manatee - Sarasota gives classroom
paraprofessionals the opportunity to earn
There are currently 45 paraprofessionals
enrolled in this collaboration.
Summer Soar in 4: This program prepares
early learners and their families for school
success through play. Families build
relationships over the summer with their
classroom expectations and to support
learning together all summer. This ensures
the family and their Pre-K student is ready
and prepared to start prekindergarten at
their designated school site.
Year-Long Soar in 4: This program
consists of eight play-based family nights
hosted in multiple locations in downtown
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