Tiny Planet Preschool Providing a World-Class Education

As a parent, you want the best for your child. That starts with selecting an early education program that will nurture your child while allowing him/her to explore, play and create in their first step to a lifetime love of learning.

Tiny Planet Preschool founder Venancio Ugalde, opened its Weston location in 2015, with the mission of providing a bilingual curriculum and culturally diverse education that prepares students for the future.

Tiny Planet is more than a school, it is a concept inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, where specialists in child neurodevelopment and pedagogical currents based on life skills converge. The Reggio Emilla approach emphasizes child-led learning, collaboration, and the importance of the environment in education.

Tiny Planet offers students and parents a variety of different enrichment programs such as swimming classes, Spanish, yoga, and many more sports enrichment classes. Their facility includes a swimming pool and a full-functioning gymnasium. The school is also equipped with iMac’s, Apple Smart TV, as well as iPads in the classrooms which teachers use as educational tools and homework help for our afterschool program.

We sat down with Venancio Ugalde, founder & owner of Graven International Group, Inc. aka Tiny Planet Preschool, to learn more about his journey in early childhood education.

Tell us how you became an innovator in preschool education.

After a decade of work in our Mexico City-based family education business, in 2012, I decided to immigrate to the United States, specifically to the city of Miami, where I had the great opportunity to open a preschool in the Brickell area. This new adventure gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn the market and create a unique concept that would, in turn, have a great impact on the community.

In 2015 we expanded north and created the Tiny Planet concept in Weston. Derived from the success of the brand in the United States, I decided to expand the concept to

Mexico. We have three Tiny Planet locations in Mexico, with two more locations in the works to be announced in 2024.

That is incredible. Why did you choose Weston for your first Tiny Planet location?

Weston had an impact on me from the first time I visited. I always wanted to open a school in a suburb with high social and economic growth and, above all, offer a unique concept that could generate trust and deep roots in the community.

What makes Tiny Planet unique?

Tiny Planet is a school that values each of its collaborators. We believe that we are responsible for creating a better world for our boys and girls, providing the values and knowledge that allow them to be competitive and better citizens of the world.

The primary strength of our project in Weston lies in the exceptional quality of our administrative and educational team. These professionals, who have dedicated years to serving their community, are well-recognized for their meaningful contributions and ability to foster a familial atmosphere within the school. Among them is Ivis Mateos, General Manager at Tiny Planet.

We guarantee that it will be a pleasant experience for anyone that visits us. You will have the opportunity to see our facilities, meet the team, and to better understand our philosophy and educational model.

June 3

Work Out & Get Motivated!

Celebrate spring with an outdoor workout. Led by personal trainer Susan Malinski, this session will get your blood flowing and set you off with a positive mindset. Led by personal trainer Susan Malinski, these sessions will get your blood flowing and set you off with a positive mindset. Boot camps are held at Peace Mound Park at 10:00 am. For more info visit www.SusanMalinski.com or call or text 954-245-2071.

June 12

Flamingo Gardens Orchid Society

June 17

Stonewall Pride Wilton Manors

The Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival typically attracts 50,000 spectators and has a direct economic impact of more than $6 million dollars for the City of Wilton Manors, according to an independent study. Stonewall Pride celebrates the historic Stonewall Riots and the start of the LGBTQ+ human rights movement and how it has shaped our community. 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm in Downtown Wilton Manors. Parade starts at 7:00 pm. For info & tickets scan the QR Code.

June 8

School is Out

Celebrate the last day of school with the kids! Broward County Public Schools

Last Day of the School year starts Summer Break.

Come listen to T. J. Hartung as he presents "Orchids of Mexico." T. J. is a retired computer systems specialist and systems analyst whose love of orchids began while living in California and started growing Cymbidiums. Retiring to Mexico he began rescuing orchids from downed trees and broken limbs learning from the great outdoors and researching. He is proud to be on the Board of Directors of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Join us to learn and share together. Doors open at 7:00pm, meeting begins at 7:30pm. Hosted at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd.

JUNE 17-18

Flamingo Gardens' Featured Creatures Weekend

June 16

Play Dates at YAA

Get artsy with projects designed for your little ones based on the story read! Build early literacy and motor skills while getting creative with your little ones! Ages 5 and Under, FREE with admission! Admission is $12 per person (Child or Adult). 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Children under the age 2 are free. Hosted at the Young at Art Museum, 8000 W Broward Blvd, Plantation. For info, visit www. youngatartmuseum.org.

Guests can explore Sean Kenney’s Nature POP®! exhibit throughout the Gardens and in the Gallery and visitors may meet & greet and have photo ops with some of Flamingo Gardens’ resident Animal Ambassadors and make and take a craft project in the Art Reaching Today’s Youth Art Bus. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S Flamingo Road. For more info call 954-473-2955 or visit www.FlamingoGardens.org

June 19

Weston Friends Club

“The Bunconeers”

This fun bunco group meets at a member's home on the third Monday of the month at 1:00 pm. For more info contact Elena Hajek at ehajek@bellsouth.net or 954802-6720.

June 24

Fifth Annual Family Pride Celebration

June 18

Fathers' Day

Celebrate fathers, fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other countries. Happy Father’s Day!

June 19

June 24

Weekley Brothers Davie Pro Rodeo

‘Watch the cowboys and cowgirls show off their skills! The Bergeron Rodeo Grounds will be prepped and ready for the South’s best bull rides, barrel racers and steer lassoing experts. Tickets can be purchased on site or at www.davieprorodeo.com. The event begins at 7:00 pm. For more info call 754-816-3183.

Celebrate Pride with MODS! The daylong event is filled with colorful fun, and educational activities for everyone. Participate in a Pride Parade through the exhibits! Spend time in the rainbow science lab with a make-and-take Pride flag, instantly drying tie-dyed T-shirts, and see a special Pride KaBoom! show! 10am to 5pm, Free Admission. Hosted at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale. For info scan the QR code.

Juneteenth: Freedom Day

On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger road into Galveston, Texas to enforce Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in the last, most remote known location in the South. Since then, the date has been celebrated as the end of American slavery. It is helpful to reflect on the darkest parts of our history in order for us to look forward. Join together with friends and neighbors to celebrate the freedoms we have and the progress that still needs to come.

June 28

Weston Friends Club "Between The Covers"

Weston Friends Book Club will meet at 1:00 pm at a member's home, on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, please contact Nancy Russo, Co-Chair, narusso42@ gmail.com, 954-385-1445 or Doris Southern, Co-Chair, doris.southern@aol. com, 786-302-1942.

Weston Women no longer need to go to Paris, New York City or even Miami to find the latest fashions and accessories. The White Lotus Boutique celebrated the grand opening of its Weston Commons location on March 12th. Guests were treated with mimosas, hors d’oeuvres, music, modeling, free giveaways and a grand opening sale.

White Lotus is the latest venture of experienced fashion boutique operator, Angela Maleh. Angela, who is also a professional cellist, opened her first White Lotus location on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina eight years ago. She followed that up by opening women’s footwear boutique Island Sole. She brings her warm, friendly personality and approach to her latest venture in Weston.

Welcoming Boutique

The bright, and welcoming decor is the first thing you will notice when you walk into White Lotus. The store has casual yet elegant ambiance. Angela and her staff are welcoming and focused on making guests feel as good as they look.

“When you walk in my door, you should feel like the queen!” commented Angela, “When you walk out of my store, you will feel more beautiful inside and outside. We are so excited to be part of the Weston community and look forward to meeting all of you soon.”

Some people think the boutique was named after the famed show White Lotus on HBO. Actually, the lotus flower holds deep meaning to Angela. “As a mediator, the lotus represents, no mud, no lotus. When a lotus grows, it must go through thick mud to bloom,” said Angela, “Even deeper in meaning, we must endure tough times to experience growth and beauty in our lives.”

White Lotus caters to women with a well-curated selection of items, including hats, shoes, jewelry, home decor, hand bags, and of course, clothing. “I just came into White Lotus for the first time ever, and it is amazing,” Said Weston resident, Jennifer, “It’s the first time that I came into a store and I actually like everything I see. They have a large selection of tops, dresses, pants, shoes, jewelry, hats, bags, household gift items, and much, much more. “New arrivals come in each week. You will rarely see the same things twice,” commented Angela, “Each month, we will be bringing a new fashion and style to our store so that you can dress to impress.”

Concierge Service

Let us dress you! A personal concierge fashion service we will be offering as well. Don’t miss out on this opportunity. White Lotus’ fashion experts will help customize your wardrobe to perfection. This service will help women perfect their personal style on their own terms.

WhiteLotusWoman.com

The boutique will also be launching their website next month for great deals and new product drops before they arrive in the store. The highly anticipated website will include their beautiful spring fashions and so much more.

White Lotus Boutique has something for everyone. They offer beautiful ladies’ fashions, bags, shoes, accessories, hats, jewelry, gifts, and house wares. It is the perfect place to purchase a thoughtful gift for someone you love or to shop for a favorite new outfit.

On May 2nd, at the Savanna Clubhouse, the Arts Council of Greater Weston held its annual reception to thank the many, many volunteers who make possible community events so enjoyed by our residents.

Adult volunteers were in attendance from all Arts Council events including the Foreign Film series, Chalk in the Park, Celebrate the Arts, Weston World Fest, Student Artist Showcase and the Summer Instagram Photo Contest.

President Laura Dobrzanski expressed her appreciation for their dedication and service.

“Without all of the volunteers who participate with us every year, we could not put on the number and quality of events we bring to our residents.”

Volunteers were able to mingle and enjoy light appetizers inside the main banquet room and patio. Members from Arts Council partner organizations including the Weston Music Society, Young at Art, and the Weston Art Guild were present. One out of five media outlets, Sports Activities Magazine was able to attend, while Our City Weston, Community

News of Weston, Somos Weston and DRW were there in spirit.

Former Arts Council board member Betty Silva was honored for her tremendous efforts over several years as Treasurer and for helping maintain the proper records to keep the Arts Council running smoothly and efficiently.

Vice President Carol Lema remarked, "We are extremely lucky to have so many dedicated volunteers who contribute their time and talents to our events every year. This allows us to provide arts and culture events in Weston which are either free or affordable for the public."

Mayor Peggy Brown, many of the City Commissioners, Officials, and City Staff stopped by to thank everyone and join in the fun.