Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative

06/22/2026

Starfish volunteers are the pilots, conductors, and drivers who take students to magical destinations and ultimately give them a home through books!

06/11/2026

Congratulations Sarasota Children’s Museum!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZcZdLmFVWq/?igsh=MWc5bHJmank4MGc5dw==

06/06/2026

Thank you Jennifer and the team at Brock Magiscope for "refreshing" some of our Magiscopes that have been used often by many Wilkinson Elementary School students over the years!! We love your product and appreciate your quick, kind, professional support!

06/03/2026

05/20/2026

Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative volunteers extend the world of books to Wilkinson Elementary Kindergarteners by reading to and discussing with them, bringing them to life through drama and art, nourishing them, and integrating lessons in nature! They give wings to their minds and flight to their imaginations!

05/15/2026

Wilkinson Elementary School — Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative is incredibly proud and grateful to celebrate nine years as your business/community partner! Our TEE Starfish volunteers sincerely appreciate the many opportunities you have provided for us to support Wilkinson students, teachers, staff, and the broader school community.

We extend our best wishes to everyone for a wonderful summer and look forward with excitement to celebrating our 10th partnership year during the 2026–2027 school year!

05/14/2026

Yesterday, our Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative “Hunger Hero” volunteers continued their partnership with All Faiths Food Bank to support food-insecure families at Wilkinson Elementary School. Led by Temple Emanu-El Starfish Food Pantry Coordinator Marc Halman, Jack Braverman, David Burke, Jeff Cohen, Jill Martin Halman, Max Lirio, Brian Miller, Bryna Tevlowitz, and Nancy Zimmerman braved the heat and demanding work of sorting, packing, and loading food into waiting cars. Grateful families expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the team for their dedication and caring.

05/13/2026

This morning, Jill Martin Halman , Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative Sensory Garden Coordinator, brought her "green thumb" into the classroom to lead Michelle Scotese ' Kindergarten students at Wilkinson Elementary in building their own fairy gardens. Through this integrated lesson, students used fine motor skills and practiced curricular skills including following instructions, recognizing the difference between fiction and non-fiction, the concept of gravity, and identifying the needs of living things including light, water, space, and shelter. Assisting Jill were TEE Starfish volunteers Marc Halman , Andrea Lieberman, and Tanice Knopp; Wilkinson parent and advocate Jody Osceola ; and UF IFAS/Extension Master Judy Kendall. The students had great fun while reinforcing multiple skills through this integrated curricular lesson!

04/29/2026

The Ringling College of Art + Design students use the Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative Sensory Garden as a context to teach Wilkinson Elementary students how to draw, culminating in this beautiful journal! Temple Emanu-El Michelle Scotese

04/06/2026

As we wind down this school year, just a reminder to Temple Emanu-El Starfish Initiative Rockin' Reader, Book Buddy, and other volunteers that you do this for our Wilkinson Elementary Kindergarteners! What a great gift you provided to them this school year!