Up with the sun run

Anna Maria Elementary School’s new runners club opens the day Aug. 20 with a first sprint on the bayside of the Holmes Beach campus. Another addition for the 2025-26 school year is a daily 30-minute PE class, according to principal Katie Fradley. “It will be important for students to wear closed-toe shoes with a back each day — tennis shoes are strongly recommended,” she told The Islander. Islander Photo: Courtesy AMI/Facebook

The grassy area on the bayside of the Anna Maria Elementary campus, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, provides a cushioned terrain for the school’s new running club. The bayside also features new playground equipment and resurfaced courts. “We’ve made some exciting upgrades to our outdoor spaces,” principal Katie Fradley said, adding that a goal is to create a “fun and secure environment for our students.”

AME students get energized early with the startup of a running club.