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Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County announces plans for 2020-2021 school year Contact Name: Sara Bealor Contact Email: sbealor@bgcsarasota.com Contact Phone Number: 941-366-3911 As schools prepare to welcome students back during one of the most challenging times in recent history, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County is here to help local children and teens navigate this new academic world by providing them with a safe place to access educational resources. Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County is now accepting applications for its 2020-2021 Great Futures Academy School-Year Program, which will launch on August 24 at its Club in DeSoto County and on August 31 at its five Clubs in Sarasota County. The program will provide a limited number of youth, ages 6 to 12, with both on-site support for students who opted into their school’s remote learning option, as well as, afterschool activities designed to foster academic success, leadership development and career exploration. “We are proud partners of Sarasota County Schools and the DeSoto County School District, and both entities are working tirelessly to keep students on track to achieve state standards in key subjects that promote life-long success,” said Bill Sadlo, President/CEO at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. “We are proud to supplement the educational needs of our community’s future leaders through our new Great Futures Academy School-Year Program.” The program will feature two sessions including Remote Learning Support during the school day and Afterschool Support. Families can only apply for one of the two sessions at this time. The Remote Learning Support session will be offered for students, ages 6 to 12, Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Space at each Club location will be transformed into a classroom setting in accordance with the safety protocols and social distancing guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and local health officials. The daily capacity ranges amongst Club locations and includes the following limits: -50 openings at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club at 3100 Fruitville Road in Sarasota; -50 at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club at 1790 21st Street in Sarasota; -27 openings at the Newtown Estates Park Boys & Girls Club at 2800 Newtown Boulevard in Sarasota; -50 openings at the Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club at 920 Gulf Coast Boulevard in Venice; -50 openings at the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club at 6851 S. Biscayne Drive in North Port; and -25 openings at the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club at 18 School Avenue in Arcadia. Youth development professionals will be available throughout the school day for guidance and technological assistance. Eligible participants must be registered for remote learning within their respective schools, have their login credentials from their teachers and plan to bring their assigned learning devices and headphones. Price of participation varies amongst Club sites. Individuals who are interested in participating must register for the week of their choice online at bgcsarasota.com. The Afterschool Support session is open to students, ages 6 to 12, who attend specific school locations. This session will take place Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. All participants must ride the bus from their school to their assigned Club location. With the safety of the children and staff as the top priority, the capacity for each Club location was determined based upon CDC protocols and recommendations from local health professionals, as well as, transportation availability. The capacity ranges amongst Club locations and includes the following limits: -90 openings are available for students who attend Tuttle Elementary School, Alta Vista Elementary School and Gocio Elementary School at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club at 3100 Fruitville Road in Sarasota; -54 openings are available for students who attend Tuttle Elementary School, Emma E. Booker Elementary School and Gocio Elementary School at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club at 1790 21st Street in Sarasota; -36 openings are available for students who attend Emma E. Booker Elementary School at the Newtown Estates Park Boys & Girls Club at 2800 Newtown Boulevard in Sarasota; -72 openings are available for students who attend Garden Elementary School and Venice Elementary School at the Robert and Joan Lee Boys & Girls Club at 920 Gulf Coast Boulevard in Venice; -72 openings are available for students who attend Glenallen Elementary School, Cranberry Elementary School and Lamarque Elementary School at the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club at 6851 S. Biscayne Drive in North Port; and -27 openings are available for students who attend Nocatee Elementary School, Memorial Elementary School and West Elementary School at the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club at 18 School Avenue in Arcadia. The Afterschool Support session will feature educational, recreational and developmental activities that empower youth to excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits and plan for success after high school graduation. Price of participation varies amongst Club sites. Applications for the 2020-2021 Great Futures Academy School-Year Program are open at bgcsarasota.com. Those interested in participating must submit their application by the strict deadline of Monday, August 17. An internal committee will review each application and verify eligibility. All children who qualify will advance to the selection process and be entered into a lottery system that will determine the secured spots for both sessions of the program. Families of the children who have been granted membership will be notified by Friday, August 21. The organization will also provide specialized programming to limited number of teens, ages 13 to 18, at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club including entrepreneurial training, leadership development, financial literacy, civic engagement and workforce development. Middle and high school students are invited to apply here. Applications for teens will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit bgcsarasota.com.