Sea Gate Scoop
April 2023 Parent Newsletter
Spring is in the Air
We hope your families enjoyed the long Spring Break! We heard all about the fabulous trips and activities you all experienced over the week away. Our students and staff returned to the building rested and ready to conquer the final quarter of the school year!
This month we begin our state testing in grades K -2, with 3-5 continuing in May. We know our Seahorses are READY to show what they know! Thank you for being a support to them and ensuring they are well rested and eat a good breakfast. Don't forget all students have access to a free breakfast at school! Make sure to mark your calendars for all of the exciting things we have planned this month...3rd and 4th grade musicals, PTO Spring Family Fun Night, and the 5th grade Middle School Visits!
We shine brighter together,
Ms. Kirby
Important Spring State Assessment Information
Tuesday, April 25 is the kick-off of state testing with the FAST Star Literacy for kindergarten students! Testing continues that week with FAST Star Reading for first and second grade students and lasts through May 18th. Please refer to the state assessment schedule included in this newsletter, so you are aware of the days your student will take their tests.
Children can sometimes become nervous and anxious before taking the state progress monitoring assessments. Please keep in mind, this is not a test your child can study for, as the third progress monitoring is an adaptive assessment and measures what your child has learned throughout the year. Reducing any stress and anxiety your child may experience is important and can be done through your encouragement and conversations at home. Reassure your child that they are prepared and ready and have learned so much this year. This is their time to shine and demonstrate what you know. Keep conversation light and use positive affirmations. Perhaps you can leave an encouraging message in your child’s backpack on testing day!
We want your child to feel positive, prepared and ready for testing, so please be sure they get plenty of rest and a well-balanced, nutritious breakfast. Arriving at school on time, by 8:15 AM, allows your child not to feel rushed to get to class. Please try not to schedule appointments for their grade level testing days, for once your student begins their test, they must complete it that day. If a student leaves for an appointment during testing, the test must be invalidated. If your child does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for them to stay home and wait to be tested on a make-up day.
Electronic Devices Policy Reminder
Students are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including cell phones, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, cameras, and Bluetooth/ wireless headphones/earbuds at any time during testing, even if they are turned off or not in use. If a student is found with an electronic device, his or her test will be invalidated. Please be sure your child knows to leave their cell phone or smartwatch in their backpack during testing.
Our campus will be closed to parents and volunteers during state testing. Please refrain from coming to school for lunch with your student during the state testing window, April 25 – May 18. We appreciate your adherence to this request.
Our teachers and students have worked hard all year to prepare for state assessments. We are confident our students are ready to show what they know!
School Counselor's Corner
Happy Spring, Seahorse Families! We ended March by celebrating our Students of the Month for Honesty. Congratulations, Seahorses! Our theme for April is Resiliency. Resilience is the skill that helps us get back up after something doesn't quite go our way. With strong resilience students are able to remain calm when things don’t go right, reframe situations, and see struggles as opportunities for growth. You can help foster and build your child's resilience by supporting, but not solving every minor problem. Help your child manage strong feelings and work through problem solving strategies with encouragement to try again.
We will also focus on Testing Preparation Strategies for Grades 3-5 in our classroom guidance lessons. It’s important for our Seahorses to get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before testing. We will work on deep breathing strategies and positive self-talk to increase our confidence and decrease our stress before the tests. I know our Seahorses will rock it!
5th Grade will be visiting the middle schools on April 21st as part of the 5th to 6th Grade transition event. We are looking forward to getting a peek into what middle school will be like. Be on the look out for the permission slip. Parent Night at the middle schools will be at April 20th at 6:00pm for an informational session for parents/guardians of incoming 6th graders. Mark your calendars!
Thanks for reading,
Katie Carney
School Counselor
ESE Information:
Happy Spring Sea Gate families! I hope each of you enjoyed Spring Break, and it was a great refresher as we enter the final push to the end of the school year! As we prepare our fifth graders for transition to Middle School, fifth grade students will be visiting their zoned middle school on April 21st. There will also be a Parent Night on April 20th at 6:00 PM. If your child is zoned to attend the Modified Curriculum Program at North Naples Middle school Parent Night is April 20th at 5:30 PM. Parent Night is a chance to visit your zoned school’s campus to learn about the many opportunities for students to meet academic, social, and emotional components of their learning. It is a great night and very informative!
This month all second-grade students will take the CoGat Screener which is a component used to screen students that maybe eligible for a full evaluation for the Gifted Program. Once testing has concluded grade levels will be meeting to determine which students fall into the top percentage of high achieving students to move forward with a full evaluation. Consent will be generated and parents will be notified of those students once scores are released. Please keep in mind the CoGat is one piece of the screening tool the teams use, teachers also take in consideration classroom performance, and the student as a whole. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My direct line is (239)377-8311 or email at ellisa2@colierschools.com.
Sincerely,
Ashley Ellis
Parents of students with an IEP: ESE Survey below
Literacy Corner
With testing right around the corner, teachers are working hard to ensure that their students have learned the academic skills needed in order to show growth on their end of the year tests. Teachers are reviewing benchmarks that need reteaching and also covering test-taking strategies. With that being said, many families are wondering what they can do at home in addition to help ensure that their child does their best. It is my opinion the best thing families can do to help their child be successful is to help them prepare mentally and physically.
We’ve all heard the saying that having a positive attitude is half the battle. This applies to testing, as well. In order to have positive self-talk, it helps when children are surrounded by it. At school we are always reminding students of this. We know that as parents you use it all the time with your children, too. But also remember to use it on testing days! “You are smart! You can do this. I know you will do your best.” By hearing this, children will go into the test ready to take on a new challenge and work hard.
In addition, testing conditions are quite different to the fun and engaging lessons students are used to in the classroom. For some students, the quiet and structured environment is a big change from the norm. Having students become familiar with being in a quiet and structured environment before the test is important. This way, on the day of the real test(s), it has become more routine.
As an incentive, Sea Gate Elementary will be encouraging children to take part in sustained, silent reading program at-home in return for a weekly popcorn reward, during lunch. This at-home reading would start April 6th. Be on the lookout in next Thursday’s communication folder for the weekly tracking ½ sheet. The popcorn incentive will continue for three weeks.
We can't wait to celebrate our readers!
Ms. Pelletier
April Lunch Menu
April 20th: Wear your Groovy-Wear....Fruitopia Day: Peace ☮️ Love ❤️ and TANGERINES🍊
4th and 5th grade Strategy Club
Mark your Family Organization Station:
4/5: PDQ Night
4/7: No School
4/10: No School
4/11: PTO Chipotle Night
4/14: 3rd grade Concert - Café @ 8:45am
4/18: SAC Meeting @ 5:00pm in the Media Center
4/20: Peace-Love-and Tangerines! Wear Tie-dye and your Groovy Attire
- PTO General Meeting @ 9:00am in the Café
4/21: 5th grade Transition Field Trip
4/24: Kindergarten Round Up @ 9:00am in the Café
4/25: Kindergarten ELA PM3
4/26: 1st grade ELA PM3
4/27: 2nd grade ELA PM3
4/28: 4th grade Concert - Café @ 8:45am
District and State Testing Schedule
Save the Date: 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony: May 30th @ 9:30 am
Sea Gate Elementary School
Email: kirbym1@collierschools.com
Website: https://www.collierschools.com/Page/1068
Location: 650 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL, USA
Phone: 239-377-8300
PTO News
April Calendar Events
· April 11 4-8pm Chipotle Night
· April 12 Garden Workday
· April 14 Teacher Coffee Bar
· April 15 EverBlades Hockey Night
· April 20 9am General PTO Meeting (voting)
· April 22 4-5:30 Spring Family Fun Night at Hertz Arena