It’s o-fish-al.
Anna Maria Elementary hosted marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey Dec. 2 for the dedication of the Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science recently implemented at the Holmes Beach school.
AME principal Mike Masiello and Manatee County School District Superintendent Cynthia Saunders expressed their gratitude and introduced Harvey to event attendees.
“Today is an exciting day for Anna Maria Elementary and the School District of Manatee County to be able to formalize the establishment of the first Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science at Anna Maria Elementary,” Masiello said Dec. 2.
Harvey spoke with praise for AME staff and students, who already are studying Harvey’s biological-science curriculum using updated resources for science and math through an artistic lens.
He highlighted his personal journey, which led him to make efforts to become a conservationist and artist.
“I’m a normal human being like you who eats fish and I’m not a tree-hugger,” Harvey told the audience.
After the ribbon-cutting, Harvey and guests unveiled the AME Guy Harvey Arts and Science classroom, its walls adorned with marine wildlife illustrations.
The classroom will be used to enhance marine and environmental science courses for Manatee County students from elementary to high school.
“Students will be able to participate in lessons that support a true STEAM approach, lessons that take learning about our marine environment and conservation to a deeper level,” Masiello said.
Because AME is situated on the bayfront, it is well suited to host marine science summer camps for students in district schools.
“It is so important that we continue to inform, educate, and engage our students so they, along with their teachers and families can enjoy and benefit from a properly balanced ocean ecosystem,” Harvey wrote in a Nov. 30 news release about the dedication.
Harvey toured the Holmes Beach campus and spoke to some AME students about their personal marine life conservation efforts and the hard work they have accomplished through the new science curriculum.
After shaking Harvey’s hand, AME fifth-grader Alex Serra said he is ready for the next lesson because “it’s fun to learn science by doing.”
