Parkside Post

Welcome back to school! We are so excited to begin another year of learning, leadership, and success! Our students and staff led the way to another A school grade! That's two years in a row and we are hoping to make it three! This year will be a Sweet Success! Students came on the first day of school with energy, excitement, and lots of smiles! Check out some of the first day of school pictures below!

One of our goals this year is for every parent to have a face-to-face conference with their child's teacher! Please be sure you set up a conference at some point this year to discuss your child's progress. We are also working to have 100% of our students reach their iReady growth goal by the end of May! Encourage your child to be focused and do their best when they complete iReady lessons each week.

As a reminder, school hours have changed! See below for a reminder. The day begins at 8:20 so please have your child in school by then. If they arrive after 8:20, they will be marked tardy. With the change in school hours, every minute counts and we want your child in their classroom and ready to learn AT 8:20.

You will also find our PM1 Assessment dates below. Please do not schedule appointments for those days. Your child should be in school on time, all day, every day, but especially on testing days.

There are many helpful links and important details in our monthly newsletter, so please take a few minutes to look through the information each month. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or call the front office. We are here to help!

Mrs. Johnessee

Principal

johnessa@collierschools.com

School hours are 8:20-2:50!

Breakfast starts at 7:45

Dismissal is at 2:50

Please make arrangement to drop off and pick up your child ON TIME.

We will not be able to stay late and supervise your children after dismissal.

Please respect our staff and be on time!

September 7 ~ No School/Labor Day

September 8-17 ~ PM1 Assessments

September 21 ~ No School for Students

September 25 ~ Crocs & Socks for $1

One of the greatest strengths of Parkside Elementary is our exceptional educators. We invite parents, students, staff, and community members to recognize outstanding teachers for the 37th Annual Golden Apple Awards, presented by Champions For Learning. Thank-A-Teacher nominations are open through September 16, 2026. These nominations not only provide an opportunity to express appreciation for the remarkable teachers who make a difference every day, but they also play an important role in identifying Teachers of Distinction who are considered for Golden Apple honors. Click here to submit a Thank-A-Teacher nomination or send in the postcard which went home with students last week: https://educators.championsforlearning.org/form2/entry/entry.asp

The Last Friday of Every Month ia a Crocs & Socks Day

Next day is September 25

$1 donation

Sponsored by Parent Lighthouse Team

to benefit PSE Students, Families & Staff!

Next meeting will be October 28, 2026

What? The Parent Lighthouse Team (PLT) is like a PTO/PTA in that it is a group of parents who want to support the Vision and School Improvement goals of Parkside Elementary.

Why? A positive relationship between home and school is an important factor which contributes to student success. We want our students’ parents to be active members of our school community and a part of the leadership, academics, and culture at PSE!

Who? Parents/Guardians volunteer to join the PLT to fulfill various roles.

How? Members can help plan and volunteer at school events, organize fundraisers, facilitate student and staff recognition and projects, etc.

When? The PLT meets as needed, but usually every other month. Meetings are held after our SAC meetings and begin around 8:15am.

If you are interested in joining, please email Mrs. Johnessee at johnessa@collierschools.com

Girl Scouts helps girls become confident leaders, courageous problem-solvers, and compassionate changemakers. Through new experiences, lasting friendships, and opportunities to serve their communities, girls discover their strengths, find their voice, and learn they can make a difference. Every adventure builds confidence, every challenge inspires growth, and every accomplishment reminds them of what they're capable of achieving. In Girl Scouts, girls don't just explore the world around them, they learn they have the power to change it!

Girls Scout Sign-Up Website: https://www.gsgcf.org/en/get-involved/join/beagirlscout0.html

See Logo below for a QR Code.

The following schools listed below have already scheduled a Girl Scouts Information / Troop Building Night:

• Corkscrew Elementary School Cafeteria on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 from 6pm until 7pm
• Avalon Elementary School Cafeteria on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 from 6pm until 7pm
• Pelican Marsh Elementary School Cafeteria on Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 6pm until 7pm
• Naples Park Elementary School Cafeteria on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 from 6pm until 7pm
• Bear Creek Elementary School Cafeteria on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 630pm until 730pm
• Vineyards Elementary School Multipurpose Room on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 from 6pm until 7pm
• Tommie Barfield Elementary School Cafeteria on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 from 6pm until 7pm

Welcome to a new school year!

One of the best ways to help your child become a stronger reader is to read together for just 15-20 minutes each day.

Reading at home builds vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and a lifelong love of books.

For our K-2 students, sight word practice is especially important.

Sight words are common words that readers should recognize quickly and automatically. Practicing a few sight words each night by reading them, writing them, or finding them in books can help make reading easier and more enjoyable.

New Worlds Reading Program

Florida offers families a free program called New Worlds Reading that helps VPK – 5th graders build their reading skills. Enrolled students get: 9 books that families choose each school year in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or braille, and reading guides and activities that help kids develop their literacy skills.

Available books include popular series like Clifford the Big Red Dog and The Magic School Bus.

There is no income requirement to participate! The program was created and funded by our state legislature, so it really is free for eligible families. 80% of VPK-5th graders in Florida public and charter schools qualify, so when in doubt, fill the application out! Apply today at newworldsreading.com.

Thank you for partnering with us to support literacy at home. Together, we can help every child grow as a reader this year!

Happy Reading! 📖

Welcome Back! Let’s Make Math a Family Adventure!

A new school year means new math learning, new challenges, and lots of opportunities to grow! As students settle into their routines, encourage them to talk about math, explain their thinking, and use math in everyday life.

Try Math at Home:

• Count objects around the house; shoes, toys, snacks, or steps.
• Have your child compare prices, estimate totals, or count money while shopping.
• Cook together and practice measuring, fractions, and following directions.
• Play card games, dice games, or board games that involve counting and problem-solving.
• Ask, “How did you figure that out?” instead of simply asking for the answer.

Math Tip: Mistakes are part of learning! Encourage your child to explain their thinking and try a different strategy when something doesn’t work.

We are excited for a wonderful year of thinking, problem-solving, and growing as mathematicians!

Science blurb:

Welcome back, PSE scientists! The 2026–2027 school year is off to a great start, and our students have already been busy thinking and working like scientists. After beginning the year learning about the Nature of Science, students are jumping into their first science units. September is a big month for matter at Parkside! Our younger scientists are observing, describing, and classifying objects based on their properties, while our older students are investigating material properties and changes, heating and cooling, water properties, mixtures and solutions, and the effects of temperature. First graders will also begin exploring how pushes and pulls can change the motion of objects. There is a lot of hands-on science happening throughout the school this month!

We also have some exciting news about our Everglades education and wildlife tracking projects! We are proud to announce that Parkside has been recognized as a Gold Level Everglades Champion School for the fourth year in a row! This recognition reflects the incredible work our students and teachers continue to do to learn about, appreciate, and help protect the Everglades.

During Everglades Week last year, our students raised $335 for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Sea Turtle Program. We are excited to announce that Reina Del Marisol, the sea turtle our students helped support, was tagged on June 3, 2026! Throughout the year, our students will be able to follow her movements using real tracking data and learn more about the work scientists are doing to study and protect sea turtles. You can track her movements here: https://sccf.hammerhead360.com/eina. Reina Del Marisol joins Suwannee Scout, our tracked Swallow-tailed Kite, as another amazing animal our PSE scientists can follow.

Be sure to ask your child what they are learning about in science—you might be surprised by how much our PSE scientists already have to share!

English Language Learners (ELL) Department

As the new school year begins, there are many ways you can help your children prepare for a successful school year. The educational resources below are targeted for students to use at home. While they focus on language and literacy, there are may be some that also include activities in other subject areas such as science, math, and social studies.

Parent Resources:

Book Buddy (PDF) – Assists parents who do not speak the English language and want to help their child with learning some Basic English words.

Duolingo- A free language-learning website and app for elementary and middle school students. Information available in multiple languages.

Fun Brain- Online books and learning games.

Games to Learn English- Free games to support English language development for all levels.

The Media Center has been buzzing with activity as we kick off a new school year! Students in grades 2–5 have been completing Media Center Orientation and getting reacquainted with our library routines and resources. Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy preparing our Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) books for our September launch—labeling, leveling, adding titles to our system, and getting them ready for students to discover. We’re also putting the finishing touches on our Media Center spaces and planning engaging lessons for our youngest readers in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade, which will begin the week of September 7. And our 3D printer has barely had a break—it’s been running nonstop creating fun items and getting ready for another exciting year of making, reading, and learning in the Media Center!

We will continue to recognize students for exemplifying our PSE Expectations...Prepared to Learn, Show Respect to Ourselves and Others, Be Responsible...and student leaders for modeling the 7 Habits, as part of the Leader in Me Framework.

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey is a great book to have in your home to read about the habits with your child! It is available for purchase on Amazon at this link. https://a.co/d/01ZGKo4G

Contact our Nutrition Services Manager, Josefina Hinojosa, at 239-377-8912 if you have questions.

FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.

FortifyFL 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 Attorney General, Department of Education and Florida Department of Law Enforcement coordinated its development and roll-out.

https://getfortifyfl.com/

Website: https://pse.collierschools.com/

Location: 5322 Texas Avenue, Naples, FL 34113, USA
Phone: 239-377-8900
Facebook: facebook.com/parksideproud
X: @parksideproud