March was a month full of community engagement at Fun Time Academy! We celebrated Dr. Seuss Week by having Spirit Week, where each day featured a fun theme, from wacky clothes to pajama day, bringing laughter and creativity to all four of our centers. Our VPK classes have also just completed Progress Monitoring 2 and the results are fantastic. Each class is making incredible strides toward the end-of-year goal of having 90% of students meet or exceed expectations. Right now, the overall score across all VPK classes is an impressive 84%.

 

We have been continuing our community connections by strengthen our relationships with amazing volunteers, including those from Florida Gulf Coast University. Their dedication to our mission helps us provide enriching experiences for our children, and we are so thankful for their support.

 

In addition to our school activities, Fun Time Academy is now part of the Naples Design District! As part of this vibrant community, we had the honor of participating in the March 12 block party, a monthly event where different sections of the Naples Design District come alive. Our event, in collaboration with other local businesses in our vicinity, was a huge success! It was lovely to share our mission and showcase the impactful work we do every day.

 

We are filled with gratitude for the ongoing support of our volunteers, community partners and families, all of whom help make Fun Time Academy a very special place.


Thank you for being a part of our journey!


Warm regards,

Jessica Campbell

 
 

Last Chance Until Summer to Book Your Tour of FTA

At Fun Time Academy, our mission is to provide affordable, high-quality early learning for underserved children from working families, preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond.


Tour date:


  • Thursday, April 3, at 2 pm


Location:


102 12th Street N

Naples, FL 34102


During the tour, you will:


  • Visit our classrooms and see high-quality, engaged learning in action.
  • Learn about our curriculum, which is specially designed for kindergarten readiness.
  • Meet our passionate educators and staff.
  • Explore how we support underserved families in the community.
 
Link to RSVP

Our Summer Tour Series is coming soon!

Generous Grant from the Naples Woman's Club

A heartfelt thank you to the Naples Woman's Club for their generous $15,000 grant to support the Santa Barbara kitchen at Fun Time Early Childhood Academy!


Our Director of Development, Kellie Pedersen, spoke about our mission when attending the Naples Woman’s Club Grant Recipient Reception, where she joined other remarkable grant grantees. We are grateful for their continuous support of our mission!

Dr. Seuss Day at Fun Time Academy

Our students had an absolutely fantastic time diving into the magic of Dr. Seuss stories. It was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. The enthusiasm and joy were palpable as we explored the imaginative world created by Dr. Seuss.


We want to thank our special guest, Dave Cook, who brilliantly brought the beloved character "Cat in the Hat" to life. His visit to our locations and his engaging reading of the story captivated our students and left them with big smiles and a sense of wonder. Dave’s performance made the day extra special and truly magical, sparking creativity and a love for reading among our students.


We are so thankful for this unforgettable experience, and we look forward to more moments like this in the future!

Naples Design District Block Bash

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Fun Time Academy at the Naples Design District Block Bash!


It was a pleasure to share our mission and passion and the work we’re doing to make Early Childhood Education accessible to every child in our community. We truly enjoyed giving everyone who attended a tour of our facilities, showcasing our inspiring teachers, and seeing the children in action. Your support means the world to us!

Welcome to March: Our Journey Through Earth and Space!


This month, we took our children on an incredible adventure to explore our home planet and the vast cosmos beyond. They discovered Earth's amazing composition—from its sprawling landmasses to its life-giving waters and the invisible air that surrounds us all.


Our little scientists learned why Earth is so special, understanding how every living thing—from the tiniest plant to the largest animal—depends on our planet's precious resources. We then blasted off into space, where their imaginations soared through the endless expanse of stars, planets, and cosmic wonders.


Back on Earth, we taught them to become environmental champions, learning the vital importance of the three R's: reducing, reusing and recycling. They discovered how simple actions can help protect our beautiful planet for generations to come.


And speaking of celebrations, we honored the birthday of the imaginative Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel himself. This special day, supported by the National Education Association, reminds us all about the magic and importance of reading.

Teacher Spotlight: Cester Williams

This month, we want to spotlight a truly remarkable teacher who has been an integral part of Fun Time Academy for 38 years. Her unwavering dedication and commitment to the academy have shaped countless students' lives and helped foster a nurturing and inspiring environment.


Throughout her time here, she has consistently gone above and beyond, making a lasting impact on the children, their families, and her fellow colleagues. Her passion for teaching and her deep care for each child's growth and development have made her an invaluable member of the Fun Time Academy family.


1.) What inspired you to become a teacher?


I was inspired to become a teacher from a young age and have always been passionate about working with children. Throughout my teenage years, I often babysat for my neighbor's children while she worked on weekends.


2.) How long have you been teaching?


For about forty years.


3.) What's your favorite part about being a teacher?


Knowing I'm a big part of making a difference in their precious little lives. I love seeing each of the children learn in their own uniqueness.


4.) What's a memorable teaching moment that has stuck with you?


One memory that I will cherish forever occurred when the mother of one of my former students saw me after her daughter had left the program. The parent and daughter both gave me a big hug, and of course, we all cried. The mother said, "You don’t know the impact that you have had on my daughter’s life," and the daughter, now an adult, said, "Thank you for everything."


5.) What's the best part about working at Fun Time Academy?


First, I love seeing the children—they inspire me. Second, our amazing team here at the downtown location is incredible! Our supervisor, Mrs. Sherry, is the best—just incredibly loving and caring. We're one big, happy family at our location. My co-workers and I support each other, and we all care about the children. Fun Time Academy is a supportive and engaging environment where we strive to make a difference in the lives of every child.

Fun Time Early Childhood Academy would like to invite you to become part of efforts in our community to make a difference in the lives of underserved children from working families.


Our summer programs are about to begin, for a $500 contribution you can positively impact underserved children from working families in our community access early learning opportunities they would not otherwise experience.


Your logo will be incorporated into our summer T-shirt worn by over 200 students, staff and families in and around our community throughout the summer. As you can imagine, we have limited spots available for this opportunity. We would like to invite you to showcase your support for children’s education in Naples by completing the form below along with your contribution.

Download sponsorship sheet

All sponsorship information must be received by Friday May 2, 2025. Email your completed form and logo to cpolin@funtimeacademy.org.

Register your child here

For the first time, NCH, the Florida Department of Health in Collier County, and the Healthcare Network are coming together to conduct a Community Health Assessment. This important initiative aims to evaluate the health needs and priorities of our community.


We need your input! Please take a few moments to complete the survey and share your thoughts. Your responses will help shape the future of health services in our area and ensure they meet the needs of all residents.

Survey in English
Survey in Spanish
Survey in Haitian Creole

Thank you for helping create a healthier future for Collier and Lee counties!

Stay up to date on what's happening at Fun Time Academy! Daily updates include:


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  • Resources
  • Events
  • "No school" updates


Follow us now and share what we've been up to. We want everyone to know about Fun Time Academy and love showcasing the growth of our students!


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Want to help support our mission?

Consider making a donation to provide affordable, high-quality early education and care.

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David Lawerence Center (DLC) Parent Night


Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Downtown

4:30 pm-5:30 pm


Volunteer Appreciation Event


Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Downtown

10:30 am-12 pm

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Collier CARES is a mobile app that connects people in need with vital resources and services in Collier County, Florida. Created by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) in partnership with the Collier Community Foundation and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the app serves the most vulnerable populations in the county.


This free bilingual application provides users with information about critical resources and services available in Collier County. NCEF is dedicated to partnering with community leaders, stakeholders and service providers across the county to ensure that every family has access to the help they need in times of need.

Thank You!

Your commitment to Fun Time Early Childhood Academy allows us to provide affordable, high-quality early learning for underserved children from working families, preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Annual Report
 
 
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