Readying for class: AME Open House

New AME kindergarten teacher Melanie Hoyden, center, stands in the center of a sea of parents and children during an Aug. 7 open house at the school, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. The first day of class was Aug. 11, as The Islander went to press. Islander Photos: Robert Anderson

Victoria Bouziane offers a helping hand to daughter Gwyneth, 5, as the AME kindergartener settled into her classroom during school’s open house Aug. 7.

Sky Dunham and daughter Summer, 4, pose for a photo Aug. 7 outside Anna Maria Elementary during a back-to-school open house for students and parents to drop off supplies and get familiar with the campus, 4700 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. The first day of class was Aug. 11, as The Islander went to press. Islander Photos: Robert Anderson

AME school clerk Shiela Zink says hello to families arriving to the Aug. 7 open house at the school. The back-to-school night is a campus tradition, usually held the Thursday before the start of a new academic year.

First-grade teacher Rachel Mauk visits with Richard Fosmore and his son, Behr, 6, during an Aug. 7 back-to-school open house at AME.

Anna Maria Elementary School’s principal, Dr. Mary Fradley, greets arrivals to the Holmes Beach campus.

Lakeyn Olsen, 6, points out her new classroom to her brother Huxley, 3, during an Aug. 7 open house at AME, which started the 2025-26 academic year Aug. 11.

Teachers’ assistant Erin Bobo gets a visit from Delphie Goodman, 5, right, along with her classmate Jack, center, and her brother Arthur, 3, left.