The Cub Chronicle

We are quickly closing in on the end of the first quarter! Where does the time go?? Now is a great time to meet with your child's teachers and be sure you are aware of exactly how your students are doing prior to the end of the quarter. It is not too late to positively impact grades!

Fall Festival is right around the corner. We hope that you all can join us for this fun, festive and family oriented event! All proceeds go directly to our teachers and students! Your help with volunteering, donations and attending, do wonders for our school! Thank you to PTO for all your hard work on putting this event together! We hope to see you there!

I am pleased to announce a partnership with Kiwanis to recognized our students! Each month, grade levels will nominate a student who shows the character traits and good citizenship as outlined by Kiwanis Terrific Kids programs. Students and their families will be invited to our school for a morning ceremony and recognition. At the end of the year, all of our Terrific Kids will be celebrated again with an end of year celebration. We are so excited to recognize the greatness in our students!

We are nearing the end of the first quarter, and we have officially finished our first round of state testing. As we move into the second quarter, I would like to include some reminders regarding the importance of student attendance and the attendance expectations and processes within Collier County Public Schools.

• Parents/Guardians are required to notify the school when their child is absent and inform the school of the reason for the absence within twenty-four (24) hours (telephone call or written note).
• When a student accumulates five (5) days of absences, whether excused or unexcused, the school shall make a good faith effort to contact the parent or guardian by telephone to discuss the reasons for the absences and shall document such contact.
• When a student accumulates seven (7) days of absences, whether excused or unexcused, a record of absences will promptly be mailed to the parent/guardian of the student. The letter/record of absences will include information about Truancy Court (for students' ages six (6) to sixteen (16)) and/or suspension of driver's license.
• When a student is absent ten (10) or more days, whether excused or unexcused, a record of absences will promptly be mailed to the parent/guardian of the student. If appropriate, a parent conference will be required and at the discretion of the Principal, the parent or guardian may be required to verify absences with appropriate documentation (e.g., doctor's visits). A student found to be habitually truant will be referred to Truancy Court (for students' ages six (6) to sixteen (16)) and/or be referred for suspension of his/her driver's license.

We appreciate your continuous efforts to notify the school of your students’ absences and look forward to our partnership in providing a supportive and academic learning environment at BCR.

Maria Vollrath

Assistant Principal, Bear Creek Elementary

We are thrilled to partner with you as we help our students grow as readers, writers, thinkers, and lifelong learners. Reading is one of the most powerful ways to support student success, and we look forward to working together to foster a love of literacy in every Bear Creek Cub.

We are excited to introduce the 2026-2027 Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Book Lists for our students. These carefully selected titles provide engaging, high-quality literature that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of reading. The books are selected each year by a committee of school librarians for their wide appeal and curriculum connections.

SSYRA Jr. (Grades K-2)

The SSYRA Jr. list features 15 outstanding picture books, graphic novels, and beginning chapter books selected especially for younger readers. [floridamediaed.org]

SSYRA (Grades 3-5)

The SSYRA 3-5 list includes 15 engaging novels and graphic novels designed to challenge and inspire elementary readers. [floridamediaed.org]

One of the best ways to help your child succeed in school is to establish a habit of reading every night. Students who read regularly build stronger vocabulary, improve comprehension skills, increase background knowledge, and become more confident learners. Establish a habit of nightly reading by setting aside 20 minutes each night to read. As you read with your child, ask questions and talk about the story.

Thank you for making literacy a priority at home and for supporting your child's reading journey. We look forward to a wonderful year filled with great books, meaningful conversations, and exciting literacy adventures! Happy Reading!

Jenna Zimmer
Literacy Coach, Bear Creek Elementary

• IL Primo Night Thursday, October 1st 4-8pm
• End of Quarter 1- Friday, October 9th
• No School for Students- Monday, October 12th
• SAC Meeting - Monday, October 19th
• Fall Festival- Tuesday, October 20th
• Early Release Day- Thursday, October 29th

During the September SAC meeting, our now elected SAC members reviewed School Improvement Plans, School Grades and school grade components and reviewed By-Laws!

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 19th at 4:00pm. You may attend via WebEx or in person. Our next topic will be By-Law approval. We hope to see you there!

October is a busy month as we celebrate making positive choices with others and for ourselves. October is National Bully Prevention Month so our counselor classroom lessons this month will focus on bully prevention and respect. We have several school-wide initiatives that we will be having this month. Thanks to our Student Lighthouse Team we have had student committees working on these events to get them ready to go and encourage our BCR Cubs with their choices.

With October being Bully Prevention Month, we have dress up theme days planned for Friday’s along with the CCPS District Bully Prevention Awareness Wednesday on October 7. Our monthly focus is to encourage all cubs with our theme: Believe in Yourself: Confident Cubs Choose Kindness! Please join us in these fun days as a reminder to be confident in ourselves, work together, make good choices, and accept others.

This month, we will also be participating in the Salvation Army’s Stock the Shelves Food Drive. Our hope is to help support those in our community as we live out our school pledge to Be Kind, Care for Others, and Reach for Success!

Our food drive will take place October 13-23. Students who are able are asked to bring non-perishable panty items to their homeroom teacher. As a friendly competition, we will have a homeroom winner from each grade level as well as an overall campus homeroom winner. Prizes and parties won will be announced on the school news.

And last, but not least, Red Ribbon Week is the last week in October. We will have fun activities throughout the week along with fun themed dress up days to remind us to make healthy, good choices.

National Red Ribbon Week Theme 2026: Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free.

10/26 - Wear red - RED-y to Make a Difference. RED-y to Make Good Choices.

10/27 - Wear Hat – Top Off Your Day with Healthy Choices

10/28 - Hero Day - Heros Make Brave Choices

10/29 - Mismatched Day - It's OK to Stand Out...Make Choices You're Proud About!

10/30 - Dress Like Your Future Self - My Future is Bright Because I Choose What's Right!

Michele Fineis

School Counselor

Fortify Florida was created and funded by the 2018 Florida Legislature as part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The application was named by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The office of the Attorney General, Department of Education and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Coordinated it development and roll-out. https://getfortifyfl.com

School Board Policies 2266, 3362, and 5517 – Prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and/or gender identity), disability, or age in the provision of educational opportunities or employment opportunities and benefits. The District School Board does not discriminate on the basis of sex or disability in the education programs and activities that it operates, pursuant to the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

For additional information or to report Title IX or any other discrimination/harassment concerns, contact Ms. Valerie Wenrich, Chief Human Resources Officer/ Title IX Coordinator, at (239) 377-0351, wenriv@collierschools.com or at 5775 Osceola Trail, Naples, Florida 34109.