Many of today’s school children spend their out-of-school time in adult-directed activities, from soccer to dance class to tutoring, without much unstructured free play time. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, playing has so many benefits including less stress, improved academic performance and social-emotional resilience. Hannah Wolfman-Jones, a former environmental engineer and current parent at NewGate Montessori School in Sarasota is hoping to change this for her son and other local children by bringing Let Grow Play Club to Sarasota.

“There is mounting evidence that heavily monitored and scheduled childhoods make kids less resilient and more anxious and depressed, but free play with minimal adult intervention can counter these trends,” says Wolfman-Jones. “This play club is a step in that direction and will be hosted at the New Gate school playgrounds or at a local park and supervised by parent volunteers.”

Let Grow Play Club is a chance for students ages 6-12 and their siblings to play independently and together outdoors. The Club is the brainchild of Let Grow co-founder Dr. Peter Gray, the eminent psychologist who has spent his life studying the crucial role of unstructured, mixed-age “free play” in developing children’s creativity, confidence, and ability to thrive. As Dr. Gray explains: “Children who have more opportunities than others for independent activities are not only happier in the short run, because the activities engender happiness and a sense of trustworthiness and competence, but also happier in the long run, because independent activities promote the growth of mental capacities for coping effectively with life’s inevitable stressors.”

Wolfman-Jones says that her goal is to provide kids a chance to play freely in mixed-age groups outdoors without caregivers breathing down their necks. She feels that this gives them a chance to come up with activities, resolve conflicts, and make friends on their own and provides many opportunities for growth as well as relaxation and fun.

“Modern childhood is often dominated by adult-led activities and screen time, at the expense of old-fashioned independent free play,” she says. “The result has been a meteoric rise in anxiety and depression in children. Let Grow Play Club counters these trends by letting kids do what they do best - get outside and play!” 

To learn more click here.

College Preparatory Academy at Wellen Park, a new tuition-free K-8 charter school, is under construction and now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year. Located at 11611 Mezzo Drive, just west of River Road off U.S. 41, College Preparatory Academy will open with an initial capacity of 600 students in grades kindergarten through sixth, with seventh and eighth grades being added each subsequent year. Managed by Charter Schools USA, College Preparatory Academy’s vision is to build college and career readiness through experiential learning and academics. Students will learn important skills through academics and technology-enabled experiences, with a parallel focus on college readiness and academic growth and emotional well-being. Utilizing an innovative village model, the school will have open and accessible spaces to encourage students to collaborate with classmates. Each grade will be a “village” and students will share four to five teachers, rather than being assigned an individual teacher. This student data-directed and teacher-supported model allows for greater flexibility to meet each student with instruction at the level needed and provide opportunities for students who excel to be even further challenged. The enrollment process for Florida charter schools starts with a random student selection lottery. Information on the enrollment process is available at wellenparkprep.org/apps. For families interested in learning more about College Preparatory Academy at Wellen Park, there are two upcoming information sessions taking place at the State College of Florida in the Selby Room: 6 p.m., Thursday, April 27, and 9 a.m. and noon, Wednesday, May 10. Additional information is also available at wellenparkprep.org or by calling 941-357-4783. 

Pictured: College Preparatory Academy at Wellen Park, a new tuition-free K-8 charter school, is under construction and now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year..

Glass has long fascinated humans, owning to its bright colors and ability to morph into anything from simple drinking vessels to massive yet intricate sculptures. At Shattered Glass Art Studio SRQ, the medium of glass lends its transformative powers to its clients, who throughout the studio’s classes grow more confident in their artistic and creative abilities.

Husband and wife team Nicole and Kevin Berry opened Shattered Glass in 2021. Nicole, born and raised in Berlin, a city renowned for its cutting edge art scene, harbored a deep appreciation for the visual arts. Kevin, an Army infantry combat veteran, had been struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, and his therapist encouarged him to take up art therapy. “Nicole got me into doing art pieces and noticed that creating things put me in a good frame of mind and took my mind off the bad things I’d been through,” says Kevin, “and she decided it would be best if I stayed in that environment and opened a studio.”

Shattered Glass offers a variety of classes for clients to enjoy, including glass art, charcuterie board and ocean wave resin pour on canvas classes, as well as private party classes. Students in the glass art classes use tumbled and shard glass to create custom works. There’s no template, so they are free to make whatever their heart desires, be it a portrait of their dog or beachside cluster of palm trees. In the charcuterie board classes, students select from premium wooden boards designed by the Berrys and imported from Italy and Germany and complete a resin design on the board. Because students delight in showing off their finished creations which they display in their homes, the studio offers the opportunity to make custom bowls that match their boards in color and style, forming a set. Beach lovers will delight in the ocean wave resin pour on canvas class, creating a stunning effect evocative of the sea’s tremendous power. Students can pick up their works after completion of the class or the next business day.

While resin crafts have been around for years, they’ve experienced a recent surge due to the development of non-toxic resins that allow the general public to work with the product indoors, like at Shattered Glass. The studio prides itself on using non-toxic, BPA-free and food-grade resins, ensuring a safe and fun experience for all. Students develop into intrepid artists, with many becoming repeat students eager to tackle new projects. “You forget about your worries and stress because you’re so into what you’re doing,” adds Nicole. “It’s therapeutic, and you’re immersed in making something come alive into world through your own creativity.”

To book a class, visit shatteredsrq.com, and visit their social media pages for project inspiration. Shattered Glass Art Studio SRQ, 2740 Stickney Point Rd., Sarasota, shatteredsrq.com. 

A compilation of students works made at Shattered Glass. Photos by Nicole Berry.

Shattered Glass Art Studio SRQ

SHACK yoga + fitness, a Sarasota staple in the Rosemary District, has opened a new location in Lakewood Ranch. SHACK has served the Sarasota community for over 10 years and will now bring their SWEAT style of yoga, as well as their SCULPT and CIRCUIT fitness classes to Waterside Place. SHACK’s signature power flow style class “moves” you in a sweaty, music-vibing, collective-energy kind of way, according to Nikka Colorado and Courtenay Smith, SHACK yoga + fitness co-owners. Each teacher will have a splash of their own individuality while guiding clients through a yoga flow, they said. All levels of experience are welcome. Download the SHACK app in the app store to schedule your first class. View the class schedule and pricing at www.shackyogafitness.com. Pre-registration is required for all classes. Studio doors open 15 minutes prior to class and the doors close at class start time. SHACK yoga + fitness is located at 1561 Lakefront Drive, Ste. 210, Lakewood Ranch, 34240. For more information visit shackyogafitness.com, email hi@theyogashack.com, or call (941)203-5146. 

Volunteers at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital were honored with a special proclamation from Sarasota County for National Volunteer Week. The proclamation was presented as volunteers gathered for an appreciation lunch and to receive service awards. Volunteers have been serving at the hospital since it first opened in 1967. In 2022, front lobby reception and admitting desk volunteers assisted approximately 48,650 people who entered the hospital and were seen in admitting, courtesy cart drivers assisted 6,297 passengers; volunteers provided support for approximately 8,275 patient discharges and assisted with 41,953 patients who were treated in the emergency department at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. Several volunteers were also honored for their long-time service to the hospital and patients. Claire Darlow, who volunteers in the emergency room, was recognized for 10 years of service and Barbara McKenzie was recognized for 40,000 hours of service. The hospital has 130 adult and teen volunteers who donate their time and talents. 

Pictured: Volunteers with proclamation. Photo courtesy of HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital.

Backwards Forwards Back | Jacqueline Goldfinger's latest drama has its world premiere at Urbanite, April 2023. 

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If you missed SRQ Magazine’s Decals and Donuts event this past week, not to worry. We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be doing another one! Join us Wednesday, April 26 from 8am to 1pm at our studios in Downtown Sarasota. Pick up your decal while chatting with other winners over donuts and coffee. And we’ll have the BOSRQ signage up for selfies and photos! See you then! 

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