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We are thrilled to share that our VPK graduates have excelled, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements. An impressive 90% of the children who started and completed the year with us were deemed kindergarten-ready on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) state test. Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that these young learners have the skills to thrive academically, and we are confident that we have prepared them to read and learn with ease, setting them up for a bright future.
As we welcome the summer months, we look forward to continuing to provide quality, affordable education and care for children by fostering a love of learning. With swim lessons and water play activities on the horizon, we have a variety of exciting themes to explore. From castles and dragons to kings and queens, fairy tales, treasures, pirates, and the ocean and beach, our summer curriculum will surely spark the imagination and inspire creativity in every student. Let's make this summer a time of growth, discovery and fun!
Warm regards,
Jessica
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SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Grey Oaks Country Club
5:30 - 8:30 pm
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Career Educator Darlene Spano Retires After 39 Years | |
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Darlene Spano, Fun Time Academy's Director of Education for the past three years, has decided to retire after 39 years in the education field. Darlene graduated from Ashland University in 1991 with a bachelor’s in elementary education and taught for Collier County Public Schools for 35 years. She became a teacher because she loves children and being a part of shaping their minds.
Darlene came to Fun Time Academy, committed to providing quality education, and enjoyed working at a place where she knew she was making a difference. In her time with us, she did that and so much more. Darlene was integral in our expansion activities, tirelessly working at each of our four locations. In addition, she played a pivotal role in maintaining the high-quality educational standards we provide at Fun Time Academy.
We wish Darlene the very best in her retirement and much happiness in life. Congratulations, Darlene, and thank you for being a part of our Fun Time Academy family.
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FTA Administrative Staff Moves to New Office Space | |
Beginning July 1, FTA administrative staff will have a new office space to call home. Prompted by growth in staffing in order to meet the needs of our expansion, the move will relocate administrative staff from our current downtown location to dedicated office space at 3003 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 201. The move will also free up much-needed instructional space at the downtown location and remove the daily traffic and distractions that can often accompany administrative operations. While we will certainly miss the joy and smiling faces of all the children, we look forward to continuing the important work that we do to ensure that every child has access to affordable, quality early childhood learning and care. | |
Stewie The Duck Brings Water Safety
in Preparation for Summer Swim Season
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On June 7, VPK students at our downtown and Poinciana locations were visited by Stewie the Duck from Safe Healthy Children. Thank you, Stewie, for teaching our children about water safety as they prepare for summer swimming and fun. Always remember Stewie's three main swimming safety rules.
1. Don't jump in until you learn to swim.
2. Wear a life jacket.
3. A grown-up must watch you in the pool.
Here's to a fun and safe summer!
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Water Play Days Bring Fun in the Sun to FTA | |
June kicked off Water Days for our downtown students. Our VPK children visit the nearby River Park Aquatic Center twice a week, while our younger children enjoy water activities on the playground. Social interaction and play are essential elements in early childhood development. In addition, water play is just plain fun! | |
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This month, the children have explored various topics, including water safety, the ocean, construction and patriotic holidays. Additionally, our VPK children have enjoyed participating in swimming lessons. During these lessons, they have learned essential swim safety rules: never swim alone, always wear a life jacket, and swim under adult supervision.
In our exploration of construction, our children have been learning about the attributes of different materials, nurturing their curiosity and imagination and applying concepts as they explore new ways to use physical materials.
Lastly, we are learning how people honor patriotic holidays through special traditions and festivities worldwide.
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VPK Graduations - Ready to Read, Ready To Learn | |
During the last week of May, FTA celebrated the 2024 graduating VPK classes at our Downtown, Golden Gate and Santa Barbara locations. Emotions were high, and a few tears were shed, and we optimistically look to the future of our beloved students and parents. We are so proud of each and every one of them and are confident that we are sending them off to kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn. | |
FTA Provides Year-Round Care and Early Learning | |
Thank you to our good friends and partners at United Way of Collier and the Keys for producing this short video spotlighting our summer programs for children and families. We could not do the work we do and prepare our children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn, without partners like you. | |
Doughnuts with Dad
FTA Celebrates Father's Day 2024
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In honor of Father's Day 2024, Fun Time Academy welcomed dads into the classroom for "Doughnuts with Dad." Seeing all the smiling faces was wonderful as the children truly enjoyed spending time with their fathers while sharing some delicious treats. We were happy to see some mothers and grandmothers join us as well. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents for entrusting us with their precious little ones, and we hope you had an amazing Father's Day weekend! | |
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Become A Fun Time Academy Volunteer!
Help Shape the Lives of Fun Time Children.
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Volunteer tutors enrich the individual classroom experience
Tutors are asked to meet the children individually during the school day to support our ELLM (Early Literacy and Learning Model) program for three- to five-year-olds. The volunteers work with our students to reinforce literacy concepts learned in the classroom. Each volunteer visits the same child weekly from November through mid April for 20 to 30 minutes per child. Volunteers often choose to have assignments of two to three children each time they visit. The volunteers read books to the children, and together, they engage in related math, literacy, science, and/or art activities to further the learning experience.
Volunteers join us on field trips
We also plan many special events and field trips for the children throughout the year, for which we need volunteer assistance and chaperones.
More fun ways to volunteer at Fun Time Academy
Additionally, we can always use help constructing or repairing classroom equipment, photographing an event, etc. If you love children as much as we do, let’s see if we can put your talents to work. We will work together to match your skills and interests with our many volunteer needs.
If you would like to volunteer with us, please click the link below. We look forward to having you join our team and help us achieve our mission of preparing children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn!
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Board Elects New Officers | | |
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Kris Pfaehler, Immediate Past Chair | | |
Fran O'Sullivan, Secretary | | |
Linda B. Carter, Treasurer | | |
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The 2024 fiscal year for Fun Time Academy ends on June 30, 2024, signaling a transition year for our two-year Board officer terms. Karen Lutz has been elected Chair, Fran O'Sullivan Secretary, and Linda B. Carter, Treasurer.
We also extend special thanks to Kris Pfaehler, our outgoing Board Chair, who will now serve as our immediate Past Chair. We thank him for his diligence, guidance, and steady leadership during a time of major expansion for us. His impact will be long felt!
We cannot thank these individuals enough for their years of dedication, support for their tireless efforts on behalf of Fun Time Academy. We look forward to even more success under the new officers' guidance and direction and know that all will bring their many years of experience and knowledge to bear in order to further the Fun Time Academy mission.
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Your commitment to Fun Time Early Childhood Academy allows us to provide safe, quality, affordable education and care for children and parents from low-income working families and to prepare the children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn! | | | | |
