Pelican Elementary: Pelican Press

Mission: Through the collaborative efforts of parents, staff, students, and the community, Pelican Elementary develops the emotional, social, academic, and physical potential of every student.

Vision: Pelican Elementary is a safe, secure, child-centered school which provides the foundation for career and college readiness for every child.

Dear Pelican Families,

Welcome back, Pelican Elementary students, families and teachers, to 2026! We hope you all were able to have wonderful celebrations with family and friends these past few weeks.

Now that the holidays are behind us, we come to the heart of our school year. Teachers are conscientiously teaching, and students are learning the grade level benchmarks. Attendance is crucial for optimum learning, and this is a critical time for students to attend every day possible in school. Parents, please discuss the importance of your child being at school on time, and we all must take extra precaution for ensuring the good health of our students. With the many viruses and illnesses that accompany the winter months, please encourage good eating, sleeping habits, and hand washing. If your child is showing symptoms of illness, please keep them at home until symptoms subside. Contact the school and your child’s teacher for missing assignments.

We hope students took advantage of the Winter Break Reading Challenge. The intent of this challenge is to encourage students to continue reading enjoyable books through the holidays to keep active-learning minds. Thank you, parents, for encouraging your children to participate in this reading challenge. Students who have met the challenge will be rewarded the week we return to school.

Thank you, again, for the rich and inspiring support you bring to our school community. Our school could not be successful without your input and team effort. We are proud of our students, teachers, staff and community strength. Together we will continue to educate our youth and prosper in a new and promising New Year.

Ms. Stanford-Principal-micheleast@leeschools.net

Ms. Milstein-Assistant Principal-jenniferlmi@leeschools.net

Progress monitoring is used to assess students' academic performance, quantify their rates of improvement or progress toward goals, and determine how they are responding to grade level benchmark instruction. Progress monitoring took place for 3rd-5th grade in December.

Kindergarten

• FAST EARLY LITERACY-Wednesday, January 7th from 11:15-12:15

• FAST EARLY LITERACY-Thursday, January 8th from 11:15-12:15
• FAST EARLY LITERACY-Friday, January 9th from 11:15-12:15
• FAST MATH-Tuesday, January 13th from 11:15-12:15
• FAST MATH-Wednesday, January 14th from 11:15-12:15
• FAST MATH- Thursday, January 15th from 11:15-12:15

1st Grade

• FAST READING-Wednesday, January 7th from 10:00-11:00 AM
• FAST READING-Thursday, January 8th from 10:00-11:00 AM
• FAST READING- Friday, January 9th from 10:00-11:00 AM
• FAST MATH-Tuesday, January 13th from 10:00-11:00 AM
• FAST MATH-Wednesday, January 14th from 10:00-11:00 AM
• FAST MATH-Thursday, January 15th from 10:00-11:00 AM

2nd Grade

• FAST READING-Wednesday, January 7th from 9:00-9:55 AM
• FAST READING-Thursday, January 8th from 9:00-9:55 AM
• FAST READING- Friday, January 9th from 9:00-9:55 AM
• FAST MATH-Tuesday, January 13th from 9:00-9:55 AM
• FAST MATH-Wednesday, January 14th from 9:00-9:55 AM
• FAST MATH- Thursday, January 15th from 9:00-9:55 AM

TIPS FOR PARENTS

Here are five simple tips to help your child do his/her best on test day!

1. Prepare for test day the night before (So your child doesn’t feel rushed in the morning)

2. Go to bed early to get a good night’s sleep (8 to 11 hours is recommended)

3. Eat a healthy breakfast (Choose fruits & whole grains over sugary foods)

4. Encouragement! KIDS LOVE IT & NEED IT! Surprise your child with a special note from you. Remind your child to Never give up and Do their best! Your enthusiasm and praise for doing his/her best can help reduce your child’s test anxiety and boost confidence!

5. Get your child to school ON TIME.

Parents, please review the following expectations with your student before testing:

▪ Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom), even if the devices are turned off or students do not use them. If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test will be invalidated.

▪ Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated.

▪ Leaving Campus—If your student leaves campus before completing a test session (e.g., for lunch, an appointment), he or she will not be allowed to return to that test session. If your student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for him or her to wait and be tested on a make-up day. Please remember not to schedule appointments on testing days.

▪ Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss the testing accommodations that will be provided for your student.

January 12- Art Club 7:15-8:15 AM

January 14- Chorus 7:15-8:15

January 14- Run Club 3:30-4:30 PM

January 15- Southern Snoballs (after lunch)

January 15- 1st Grade- Miss Nelson is Missing

January 16- Q2 AR Party

January 20- Garden Club 7:15-8:15 AM

January 21- Chorus 7:15-8:15 AM

January 21- Run Club 3:30-4:30

January 26- Photography Club 7:15-8:15 AM

January 26- Chorus 7:15-8:15 AM

January 30- PBIS Popcorn Snack

January 30- STEM Club 7:15-8:15 AM

January 30- Drop Everything And Read (DEAR)

January 31- Pelican Night with the Florida Everblades

Pelican Elementary School has decided to hold a Read-A-Thon this year!

Read-A-Thons actually get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.

Our Read-A-Thon starts Friday January 23, 2026.

About one week before our Read-A-Thon starts we will send home instructions on how to activate your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to view and record their progress.

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today by clicking on https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/ziExLf/1?utm=email and following the simple instructions.

We've chosen Read-A-Thon because it will not take much of your time, gives your child a reason to read and helps in the development of stronger reading skills.

We hope EVERYONE participates.

Thanks so much,

Pelican Elementary School

Order your Wild About Learning school spirit shirts online!

Set time limits and know what your child is texting or accessing on their new phones, tablets, and or gaming stations. In order to help protect children from online predators, cyberbullying, and peer pressure, it is important that parents and guardians understand how children’s vulnerabilities may make them susceptible to manipulation from others.

The internet has drastically changed the way that children interact with the world. As the social demands on them increase, so do their own desires to get along better with their peers and with adults in their life. The internet allows access to in-depth knowledge, tools to express their creativity, and people from all over the world. Cell phones, texting and the internet offer new risks as well such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate material, online predators, and revealing too much personal information about themselves or others.

Sweaters/Jackets: Please make sure your child's first and last name is inside their sweaters and jackets. (and on lunch boxes/water bottles)

Classroom Celebrations- We love to be able to have celebrations in the classroom for all different reasons. If you are sending a snack for the classroom, please remember that they must be in the original packaging from the store. This allows us to keep those with severe allergies safe. Out of an extra abundance of caution, items cannot be removed from their original store packaging and repackaged, or they will be returned to you. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding of this policy as we strive to keep our students safe.

February 2- Photography Club

February 3- Garden Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 4- Q3 Interim Report Day

February 4- Chorus 7:15-8:15 AM

February 5-Parent Teacher Conferences/Student Led Conferences

February 6- STEM Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 9- Photography Club

February 9- Creative Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 11- Chorus 7:15-8:15 AM

February 12- Southern SnoBalls (after lunch)

February 12- Jump Rope for Heart

February 13- PTO Sneaker Ball 5:30-7:30 PM

February 13- STEM Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 14- STEMTASTIC

February 16- NO SCHOOL-Presidents' Day

February 17- Garden Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 18- Chorus 7:15-8:15 AM

February 20- STEM Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 23- Photography Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 23- Art Club 7:15-8:15 AM

February 24- 2nd Grade Field Trip

February 25- Chorus 7:15-8:15 AM

February 26-Q3 SAC Meeting

February 27- PBIS Sundaes with Stanford

February 27- STEM Club 7:15-8:15 AM

Florida Statutes 1012.42(2) recognize that teachers at times must be assigned duties in a class outside the field in which the teacher is certified. The following teachers at Pelican Elementary School are engaged in training to add endorsements to their current certificate:

Nicole Ahlquist (ESOL)

Gina Bell (ESOL)

Madison Cash (ESOL)

Sari Dickson (ESOL)

Adam Frank (ESOL)

Lashell Gehring (ESOL)

Kelsie Olmer (ESOL)

Johanna Peralta (ESE K-12))

Megan Sopko (ESOL)

Kimberly Squicciarini (ESOL, Gifted)

Elizabeth Stewart (ESOL)

Christopher Tedder (ESOL)

Collin Wray (ESOL)

Pelican Elementary has been recently inspected and certain asbestos-containing materials or assumed asbestos-containing materials such as: fire doors or roofing materials that are tested prior to repairs or removal as needed, have been located in the school buildings. Please be aware that the School District of Lee County has an active management plan designed to ensure that the building is maintained safely for all occupants. These materials are being controlled in accordance with the Asbestos Management Program for the School and following the limitations and procedures of the policies and requirements of the Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Program of the School District of Lee County.

The report listing the location, quantities, and condition of all known materials and contains the details of the control procedures is available at the school office for your inspection during normal school hours. Copies of the whole or parts of the school’s asbestos file can be supplied to you at a cost of $0.15/page.