Cape Elementary: Seahawk Sentinel
September 5, 2018
Cape's Mission & Vision
Vision: We believe that the most promising strategy for achieving the mission of Cape Elementary is to develop our capacity to function as a professional learning community.
Dear Cape Families,
Welcome to the new school year! The first three weeks of school were a time for learning new faces, new routines and new teachers. We are proud of our students, staff and parents for a successful and smooth opening. Thank you for making Cape Elementary an amazing place to be. We look forward to a wonderful year together.
Our PTO fall fundraiser (Yankee Candle) started last week. Thanks for supporting our PTO and our school! Our students and teachers benefit from your donations. PTO purchased AR folders, books, lanyards, student incentives, bounce houses, Game Guys, teacher incentives and much more. Our first PTO meeting is on Wednesday, September 5, and we hope to see you there. We welcome new faces and new ideas.
One of the most important components of a good school is the partnership between the school and parents who work together for the best interest of children. The close partnership between home and school is one of the exceptional strengths at Cape. We appreciate the phone calls, emails, offers to help and expressions of gratitude each day. We strive to work together to make sure your student has a memorable and enjoyable experience at Cape Elementary.
We look forward to seeing you at the end of the month at Culver’s. Seymour the Seahawk will be there along with our teachers who will be delivering food.
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please do not hesitate to call, email or set up an appointment to meet with us. We will be calling ten random parents each month to ask for feedback from you. We will work with you and your child throughout the school year to provide a productive and safe learning environment that supports student success.
Sincerely,
Nicole Osterholm and Kristi Sund
Culver's Night
Ice Cream for Sale!
Box Tops for Education
From Our PTO
We had a great turnout for our first Spirit Night of the year at Chipotle! With the help of all our Cape families we were able to raise $484.00!! Mrs. Hannaway's class won our Spirt Night drawing and will win an ice cream party!
Our Yankee Candle Fundraiser began on 8/23 and ends on 9/14. This is our only major fundraiser of the year and we appreciate your support. All money raised goes directly back to our classrooms in the form of teacher supplies, SOAR celebrations, field trips, student assemblies, and much more.
Our first PTO/SAC Meeting of the year is 09/05 at 6:00 pm in the media center. We would love to see you there!
If you have any questions or would like to receive our email updates, email us at: capeelementarypto@gmail.com
With your support, the 2018-2019 school year will be a huge success!
September Counseling Corner
The 2017-18 school year is underway! September is Attendance Awareness Month. Florida Statutes state that parents/guardians are responsible for the attendance of their children within the compulsory attendance age, 6-16. You may be saying to yourself, “Thank you, Captain Obvious, for pointing that out. Why the big deal?” Attendance directly ties into our school district’s commitment to the “ABCs of School Improvement.” The “A” stands for “Attendance.” Regular school attendance promotes academic success. Regular school attendance is necessary for students to feel connected to their school community. Regular school attendance builds character. So what if my kids are a few minutes late every day? Is being tardy as serious as being absent? Habitual tardiness, as defined by school board policy, is six or more tardies to school per quarter. Three unexcused tardies or unexcused early sign-outs may, at the principal’s discretion, be considered equal to one day of absence. Students who are chronically absent, missing school 10% or more days within a school year, are at an increased risk for dropping out. Research shows that students who have two or more absences in the first 20 days of school are also at risk. Our school social worker, Erin Dallacosta, is here to help you come up with a plan if you are struggling with getting your child(ren) to school each day. Attendance matters!
The district-wide character word for September is ACCEPTANCE. This involves the recognition of the diversity of others, their opinions, practices, and culture with a favorable reception. The Quote for the month: “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” ~ Stephen Covey
As students learn our school-wide SOAR expectations, they quickly discover that understanding both the “A” and the “R” letters requires a measure of acceptance. In order to “A” – Aspire to be an outstanding citizen and team player, students have to work well with others. This also holds true for the “R” – Remembers to be responsible and respectful. Understanding another person’s point of view is essential in learning to get along with individuals from all backgrounds.
As we look toward October and National Bullying Prevention Month, my goal as your school counselor is to teach tolerance. Tolerance fosters acceptance. Acceptance builds empathy, and empathy is one of the keys to a kinder, safer school.
Schools are required to investigate all reports of bullying. Bullying Complaint Report Forms can be found by following the “Parent Portal” link to the “Anti-Bullying” heading at www.leeschools.net or by contacting your child’s teacher, school administration or the school counselor. Every student should feel safe and valued at school. Thank you for joining with us to ensure student success and for fostering acceptance in our future leaders Cape Elementary.
Did You Know?
· Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause a student to fall behind in their learning.
· Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
· Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
· Being late to school impacts a student’s learning and may lead to poor attendance.
Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school and themselves. Start building this habit now in preschool and elementary school, so students learn going to school on time, every day is important. Remember Cape Elementary School is always here to help students and parents, so please reach out to the school and school social worker if you have any concerns regarding attendance.
For more on school readiness information, visit www.attendanceworks.org
From Our School Nurse
School is back in session!
When it comes to early childhood health, early diagnosis of common issues can have a monumental impact on the life of the child. For hearing and vision, regular screenings during the development years can lead to an early diagnosis for a healthier, happier life. Cape Elementary vision and hearing screenings will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 8:30 AM for kindergarten, 1st grade, and 3rd grade. Grades 1 & 3 will also be measured for height and weight. Vision and hearing referrals will be sent home if there is a need for further care or correction.
Save the Dates for FSA Testing!
April 2, 2019-FSA Writes for 4th and 5th Grades
April 3 and 4, 2019-FSA ELA for 3rd Grade
May 1 and 2, 2019-FSA ELA for 4th and 5th Grades
May 7 and 8, 2019-FSA Math for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades
May 9 and 10, 2019-NGSSS Science for 5th Grade
Reserved Parent Pick Up Parking....What's It All About?
We LOVE our Business Partners
Jim Fischer Realty
Quality Pest Control
Cape Coral First United Methodist Church
Vineyards Community Church
Horace Mann Insurance
Walmart (FM Beach Store)
Culver's
Papa John's Pizza
Wendy's
Publix
Rib City
Cici's Pizza
Applebee's
Dominoes Pizza
Stuff-A-Bagel
Cape Elementary
Email: nicoledo@leeschools.net
Website: cap.leeschools.net
Location: 4519 Vincennes Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Phone: 2395423551
Facebook: facebook.com/CapeElem
Twitter: @CapeElem
Lee County School Board
Board Members:
Cathleen O'Daniel Morgan, District 7 (Chairman)
Pamela H. LaRiviere, District 5 (Vice Chairman)
Mary Fischer, District 1
Melisa W. Giovannelli, District 2
Chris N. Patricca, District 3
Steven K. Teuber, District 4
Jane E. Kuckel, PhD, District 6