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 to November! We have so many things to be grateful for here at Pelican Elementary. Above all, we all have each other: wonderful students, teachers and staff, parents and community. There is great learning going on here at school due to everyone’s efforts!

A huge THANK YOU to the parents for being involved in Pelican Elementary this school year. We continue to be impressed with the number of parents volunteering, attending SAC meetings, and participating in school events. Keep being awesome!

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving season. We are grateful to you and thank you for sharing the opportunity of working with your children. They make us want to come to work each day!

Michele Stanford, Principal

Jennifer Milstein, Assistant Principal

Nov 3- Creative Club 7:15 am

Nov 3- Yearbook Presale Begins

Nov 4- Garden Club 7:15 am

Nov 5- Run Club 3:30-4:30 pm

Nov 5- Chorus 7:15 am

Nov 6- 1st Grade hosts Movie Afternoon 3:10-5:00

Nov 7- End of canned food drive

Nov 11- No School- Veteran's Day

Nov 12- Q2 Interim Day

Nov 12- Run Club 3:30-4:30 pm

Nov 12- Chorus 7:15 am

Nov 13- Painting Night with Mrs. C

Nov 13- Health screenings- Kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grade

Nov 13- Southern Snoballs

Nov 15- Grinch Breakfast

Nov 17- Creative Club 7:15 am

Nov 18- Garden Club 7:15 am

Nov 19- Chorus 7:15 am

Nov 19- Run Club 3:30-4:30 pm

Nov 20- 5th Grade hosts Il Primo Friendsgiving

Nov 21- Turkey Trot with Kona Ice

Nov 21- PBIS Extra Recess

Nov 24- Nov 28- Thanksgiving Break

3rd Grade:

Reading- Dec 2

Math- Dec 9

4th Grade:

Reading- Dec 3

Math- Dec 10

5th Grade:

Reading- Dec 4

Math- Dec 11

Suggested Reading List

• "Being a Leader (Citizenship)” by Cassie Mayer
• “Being Responsible (Citizenship)” by Cassie Mayer
• “Way to Be!: Learn How to Be Brave, Responsible, Honest, and an All-Around Great Kid” by Mary Small and Stacey Previn
• “We Live Here Too!: Kids Talk About Good Citizenship” by Loewen, Nancy, Wesley and Omarr

World Kindness Day 2025 is a global observance dedicated to promoting and celebrating acts of kindness. This day serves as a reminder of the positive impact that kindness can have on individuals, communities, and the world at large. It encourages people to perform intentional acts of kindness and foster a culture of compassion and generosity.

Participating in World Kindness Day is a simple yet impactful way to make a positive difference in the world. Here are ways to get involved:

• Perform Acts of Kindness: Throughout the day, consciously perform acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor, complimenting a colleague, or donating to a charity.
• Spread Positivity: Share uplifting and positive messages on social media to inspire others to be kind and compassionate.
• Volunteer: Offer your time to volunteer for a local charity or nonprofit organization that aligns with your values.
• Donate: Make a donation to a charitable cause that you believe in, whether it’s for humanitarian aid, education, or healthcare.
• Teach Kindness: Educate children and young people about the importance of kindness and empathy through storytelling or classroom activities.
• Random Acts of Kindness: Surprise someone with a random act of kindness, such as buying a stranger’s coffee or leaving an encouraging note for a friend.

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.

Pick up and drop off- For safety and security purposes, we ask that students not be dropped off on campus before 8:15 a.m. or left on campus after 3:40 p.m., unless they are attending PECP. Due to there not being staff available to watch students outside the hours of 8:15-3:40; if your student is on campus too early, or picked up late there, is a $10 fine, per student, for the first occurrence and a $20 fine, per student, each time thereafter.

Mr. Young was awarded a Kiwani's grant for $3,900 to support Music education here at Pelican!

Mrs. Squicciarini was awarded a Kiwani's grant for $800 to support the Gifted education project!

Mrs. Allen was awarded a grant from the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools for $2,000 to support purchasing science and math materials.

The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is excited to invite you to the 15th Annual Strides for Education 5K Walk/Run, taking place at Florida SouthWestern State College on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

For 15 years, this event has directly supported students in our Take Stock in Children mentoring program, allowing them to earn four-year tuition scholarships through academic and personal achievement. Since its inception in 1995, Take Stock in Children of Florida has helped more than 39,000 middle and high school students, awarding over $303 million in scholarships statewide to help make their post-secondary goals a reality.

We hope you will consider joining us for this fantastic event—either as a runner or simply as a supporter of this wonderful program! For race information, sign-ups, and team formation, please visit our race website at https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/FortMyers/StridesforEducation5K, or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.

Students under the age of 18 and teachers will receive a discounted registration rate of $25. School teams and run clubs are welcome to register in bulk using the attached paper registration forms. Please ensure all paper registrations are submitted to The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools no later than January 21, 2026, to allow sufficient time for processing.

For questions or registration assistance, please contact Nicholas Wheeler at nicholas@leeschoolfoundation.org.

Reflex is an online, game-based program that helps students build fast and effortless recall of math facts. Research has shown that quick recall of math facts is critical for future success in mathematics. Below, please find additional information to help support and monitor your child’s progress to math fact fluency with Reflex at home.

•Students Login directly (SSO) through their LCSD Student Lauchpad and select the Reflex icon.

• Students are encouraged to login to Reflex at least 3 times a week and strive for the “green light” each time.

•Your child can utilize the Reflex math program from any device, including smartphones,with internet access throughout the school year from home or on the go.

•Reflex helps students of all ability levels to develop fluency with their basic facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

•Reflex continuously monitors your child’s performance to create an optimal experience for them. •Parents can easily monitor their child’s progress by creating a Free Reflex Parent Account. Ask your child's teacher for more details.

R.E.A.D. Books with Your Child

R - Remember to mention the title, author and illustrator.

E- Explain confusing words and concepts.

A- Ask your child questions about the story.

D- Discuss the Story during and after reading.

• Independent Reading

• Read 20-30 minutes per day: Read and Respond form

• Shared Reading with a parent: Child reads with assistance from parent/sibling

• Read Aloud

• Echo Reading

• Choral Reading

• Tips for types of questions to ask while reading

• Really Great Reading (phonics): Check out the parent videos and Resources

Located on the SDLC Launchpad:

• iReady Learning Paths

• BrainPop/BrainPop Jr.

• Overdrive (Digital Library)

Other Ideas from Just Read Florida: Promoting Literacy at Home

• Ask questions while reading with children

• Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home (REL Southeast)

Don’t Forget Writing!

• Encourage children to write:

• Become a penpal with another student at school.

• Use a notebook to become a penpal with your child and write notes to each other. (This is also a great way for children to communicate their feelings at this time.)

• Write letters to grandparents to keep in touch or to settle down at the end of the day.

• Watch a show with the child and then ask them to write about the part they liked best and to explain why.

• Other creative ways to get students writing over the summer attached!

Remember the conversations had with children are just as important as the writing and reading they do! Conversation builds oral language skills and plays a vital role in every child’s academic success.

Hard Copy Packets (40 days worth)

Amazing Educational Resources

Are you interested in working together with Pelican Elementary to enhance the student learning experience and promote school improvement? Contact Michele Stanford for details.

Dec 2- Garden Club 7:15 am

Dec 3- Run Club 3:30-4:30 pm

Dec 3- 4th Grade hosts Movie Afternoon

Dec 3- Chorus 7:15 am

Dec 8- Creative Club 7:15 am

Dec 10- Southern Sno Balls (after lunch)

Dec 10- Run Club 3:30-4:30

Dec 10- Chorus 7:15 am

Dec 11- Holiday House Preview

Dec 12- 18- Holiday House open

Dec 12- Parents Night Out 5:00-7:30 pm

Dec 15- Pictures with Santa or the Grinch

Dec 15- Kindergarten Winter Concert

Dec 15- 19- Winter Spirit Week (details to come)

Dec 16- Kindergarten Winter Concert

Dec 16- Garden Club 7:15 am

Dec 17- Run Club 3:30-4:30 pm

Dec 18- Reindeer Run with Kona Ice

Dec 18- PBIS Cookie Decorating

Dec 19- Early Dismissal Day. Students dismiss at 1:10

Dec 22- Jan 2- Winter Break

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.

• District 1: Samuel Fisher, Chair

• District 2: Melisa W. Giovannelli

• District 3: William F. Ribble, Jr.

• District 4: Debbie Jordan

• District 5: Armor Persons

• District 6: Jada Langford Fleming, Vice Chair

• District 7: Vanessa M. Chaviano