The Calusa Connection

Dear Calusa Park Families,

As we enter this festive season, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and partnership in making our school such a special place. December is always a time of joy and togetherness, and we are excited to celebrate with you!

One of our favorite traditions is just around the corner, our annual “Let It Snow” event on Friday, December 12th. This year’s celebration will be filled with games, face painting, delicious food, and plenty of fun for the whole family. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students and families to come together and enjoy the magic of the season.

We can’t wait to see everyone there as we make lasting memories and spread holiday cheer. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, joyful December!

Sincerely,

Susie Summers
Principal of the Calusa Park Black Bears

Happy December, CPE Families!

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students. We truly appreciate you making daily attendance a priority during our state and district testing windows and scheduling vacations or appointments on non-testing days. Your efforts help ensure our Black Bears have the opportunity to do their very best.

📅 PM2 Testing Dates

To help you plan ahead, below are our upcoming PM2 testing dates. Please review them carefully and mark your calendar so students can arrive on time, well-rested, and ready to learn.

December 2025 CPE – District Assessment Calendar

• 12/9- Grades 2nd and 5th i-Ready
• 12/10- Grades KG & 4th i-Ready
• 12/11- Grades 1st & 3rd i-Ready
• 12/12- Grade 1st i-Ready
• 12/15- Grade 5th Science Assessment

January 2026 CPE – PM2 FAST Assessment Calendar

• Week of 1/13- Grades KG-5th ELA PM2
• Week of 1/19- Grades KG-5th Math PM2

📵 Cell Phones & Smart Watches

A friendly reminder that all student cell phones and smart watches must remain powered off and stored in backpacks during school hours. This helps maintain a focused and distraction-free learning environment for all students.

🧸 Toys in School

As we head into the holiday season, please help us by checking backpacks regularly and ensuring that all toys stay at home. Toys can easily become distractions—or even cause disruptions—in the classroom. Thank you for helping us keep students engaged and ready to learn.

We appreciate your partnership and look forward to a wonderful month of learning and celebration at Calusa Park. As always, please reach out if you need anything—we’re here to help!

Wishing you a joyful December!

Loren Finger,

Assistant Principal

School Doors Open: 7:45am

FREE Breakfast: 7:45am-8:15am

Bell Rings to Enter Classrooms: 8:15am

School News Show Begins: 8:25am

Students are Marked Tardy: arriving 8:25am or later

Dismissal: 2:50pm

• December 12th:
• SAC Meeting 7:45am in Media Center
• Let is Snow Event 5:30-8:00pm
• December 19th:
• Habit Hero of the Month (select students only)
• End of Quarter 2
• December 22nd- January 2nd: NO SCHOOL for Winter Break
• January 5th: NO SCHOOL- Teacher Planning Day
• January 6th: Students Return

Arrival

Reminders:

• Doors open at 7:45am. Students are not permitted to wait outside school unaccompanied.
• Please remain in car line until we receive students from you.
• Keep a steady flow of traffic in a SINGLE line by pulling up to the next available staff member or safety patrol when dropping your child off.
• Please remain in your vehicle at all times.
• Students who arrive to their classroom after 8:25 will be marked tardy.

Dismissal

Reminders:

• Dismissal is at 2:50pm.
• Please remain in your vehicle as your child will be brought to you.
• No cell phone use for safety purposes.
• Please put your car in park once you get to a flag number for safety purposes.
• If the pick up person does not have a car rider sign, they will be directed to park and go to the front office prior to child being released. They MUST have a valid Photo ID ready, as student safety is the upmost importance and we will need to verify all pick-ups.

Changes to Transportation

ALL changes to transportation MUST go through the following procedure by 2:00PM:

• Call to the front office (377-6400) with the transportation change.
• If notification is not received, the child will be sent home as they normally dismiss.

Veterans Day Letters

We spent a lot of time demonstrating Kind Acts in November with the letters to Veterans on Veterans Day.

World Kindness Day- November 13th

We celebrated World Kindness Day by creating a school-wide chain to represent we are all “Connected with kindness at CPE”. Each student and staff member had the opportunity to write about a time they showed kindness or a time someone showed them kindness or just a kind word to state the meaning of kindness. This chain is displayed in our cafeteria for all to see!

"How Full is your Bucket" Kindness Activity

Every student at CPE is receiving a paper bucket and some classes have started putting kind notes and compliments in each other’s buckets as an activity to spread kindness. This was inspired from the book, "How Full is your Bucket" which you can listen to using the link below. https://collierschools.instructuremedia.com/embed/3b7dfcce-6b19-4e57-8686-bbf126ccc1b3

With appreciation,

Stacy Hamburg
School Counselor

Each month, one student from every class will be selected as a Habit Hero of the Month, a student who consistently demonstrates the featured habit in their words, actions, and leadership.

These students will be honored at a special Habit Hero Assembly each month, where they will be recognized in front of their peers and families. We can’t wait to celebrate their growth and leadership!

Winter break is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book. Here are some fun ways to keep your child reading:

✅ Create a Reading Spot – Add blankets and pillows for a cozy nook.
✅ Make It a Routine – Read together for 15 minutes each day.
✅ Try a Reading Challenge – Complete a bingo board or checklist.
✅ Use Free Resources – Check out Epic, Libby, or Storyline Online for e-books and audiobooks.
✅ Connect Reading to Fun – Read recipes, holiday stories, or books about winter traditions.
✅ Let Kids Choose – Comics, magazines, and graphic novels count!

📚 Tip: When kids see YOU reading, they’re more likely to read too!

Math is everywhere—even during the holidays! Here are some fun ways to keep your child engaged:

✅ Cook Together – Let kids measure ingredients and double or halve recipes.
✅ Play Math Games – Try board games like Monopoly or card games that involve counting.
✅ Use Real-Life Math – Have kids help with budgeting for holiday shopping or estimating travel time.
✅ Explore Online Resources – Check out free sites like Prodigy, Khan Academy, or Cool Math Games.
✅ Create a Math Challenge – Count ornaments, calculate how many days until New Year, or measure snowfall.
✅ Incorporate Puzzles – Sudoku, logic puzzles, and tangrams are great brain boosters!

📌 Tip: Make math fun by connecting it to everyday activities and family traditions.

Hello CPE Families,

Our favorite annual tradition Let it Snow Event is coming up on Friday, December 12th! It’s a magical event filled with fun, festivities, and community spirit. Please see below for more information that is also going home in Wednesday folders this week.

Thank you for being a vital part of our school family. We can’t wait to see you soon!

Warmly,
CPE PTO

Need another gift this Holiday Season?

Pre-Order the 25-26 Calusa Park Yearbook for your child. You can order from the website below or wait for the hard copy order forms to be sent home in the Wednesday Folders on December 3rd. The website is listed below along with the yearbook code.

https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob

Yearbook ID Code: 15384426

Get your child’s learning journey off to a great start! Our district’s Pre-K application period for the 2026–2027 school year opens December 1, 2025, at 6 PM. The program is open to children who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2026 (with priority given to 4-year-olds). We’re proud to offer Pre-K classes right here at our school, where children build the skills, confidence, and curiosity that create a strong foundation for kindergarten readiness.

Apply online at collierschools.com/prek — we’d love to welcome your family to our school community!

1. All volunteers, new and returning must reapply every year.

• Apply to volunteer by clicking "Apply to Volunteer” - https://www.collierschools.com/volunteer

2. Please come to our front office to complete the registration process.

• Please bring a valid US-issued photo identification which will complete your background check
• Please visit our front office from 8:30am–10:00am or by appointment

3. If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Mrs. Mullens.

• Amy Mullens- mullenam@collierschools.com, 377-6403

See attached for access to the full Parent and Family Engagement Plan.

Calusa Park Elementary follows the CCPS Code of Student Conduct. Please see attachment below to review policies such as Attendance, Discipline, Dress Code, Electronic Devices and more!

Plan ahead! It is important that students are at school, on time, every day! Every moment of learning is important to your child’s development and progress. Please see Attendance Newsletter from September for all things Attendance including family resources.

Attendance Newsletter Link: https://secure.smore.com/n/usw81-let-s-talk-about-attendance?ref=email

*Please note- If your child is absent for any reason, please call the front office at 377-6400 to let us know why your child is absent so we can properly notate that. In addition, all absences are unexcused unless a doctor’s note is provided. Per Florida Statute (1003.26(1)(b), students with 5 unexcused [or validated] absences within a calendar month, or 15 unexcused [or validated] within a 90 day period are considered truant and an attendance meeting may be scheduled with the school and district personnel.

Website: collierschools.com/cpe
Location: 4600 Santa Barbara Blvd, Naples, FL 34104
Phone: 239-377-6400
Twitter: @blackbearsroar

Facebook: Calusa Park Elementary

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. 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.