Sea Gate Scoop

Dear Sea Gate Families,

Welcome to an exciting new school year at Sea Gate! As we begin our journey together, our school theme, "From Tide to Sky: Growing MInds and Lifting Ideas," reminds us that every student has the potential to grow, achieve, and soar to new heights. Just as the tide helps lift all boats, we are committed to supporting each child's individual learning journey and celebrating the unique strengths they bring to our school community.

At Sea Gate, we believe that student success flourishes in a safe, supportive, and collaborative learning environment. Our dedicated staff is focused on fostering meaningful relationships, encouraging curiosity, and helping every student make continuous progress toward their personal goals.

We look forward to partnering with you throughout the year as we work together to ensure every child feels valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Here's to a wonderful year of growth, learning, and success!

Warm regards,

Ms. Kirby

Do you know a teacher who made a lasting difference in your child’s education? Now is the time to recognize them!

We invite families to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the impact teachers make. Your nominee does not have to be your child’s current teacher. Perhaps there is a teacher who inspired your child early in their elementary years, encouraged them to believe in themselves, or made a lasting impact on who they are today.

Great teachers leave footprints that last far beyond the classroom. If a teacher has made a difference in your child’s life, we would love to hear their story!

🍎 Nominate a teacher who deserves to be recognized with a Distinguished Golden Apple Award. Your nomination could be the special recognition that reminds a deserving educator just how much their dedication and impact truly matter.

To increase communication with families this year, we are sending out a Week at a Glance text. Make sure to update your phone numbers and email addresses in the Portal to ensure you receive all communication for our school.

Also, Emergency Forms need to be updated in the Portal again this year!

Communication for Morning Clubs was sent out last Friday in our Weekly Text Message; we still have a few spots left for Quarter 1 Morning Clubs. Make sure to register on the form below, if you have already completed it, please do not fill it out again. We can't wait for our students to experience the great clubs our teachers have volunteered to do and our amazing PTO has sponsored!

Regular attendance is essential for student success. Students should be in their classrooms, ready to learn, by 8:25 a.m. each day. Arriving late not only impacts your child's learning but also disrupts instruction for the entire class. Students are expected to be learning in the building from 8:25 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

Whenever possible, please schedule appointments and other activities outside of school hours. Consistent attendance, punctuality, and remaining in school for the full day help students maximize their learning opportunities.

Please remember that students attending on an out-of-zone reassignment may have that reassignment rescinded if they demonstrate a pattern of excessive absences, tardiness, or early dismissals.

If your child is absent, a parent or guardian must notify the school office so that the attendance record can be updated in FOCUS within 24 hours. Teachers do not have the ability to make attendance changes. Please note that notifying the office validates the absence but does not make it excused. Absences are only considered excused when a medical note is provided that includes the student's name and the dates of absence. Any absences occurring before or after the dates listed on the medical note will be recorded as validated but unexcused.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure every student is present, on time, and ready to learn each day!

Important Student Assessment Dates

Please mark these important testing dates on your calendar. The data collected from these assessments plays a vital role in guiding teacher lesson planning and supporting targeted student instruction. By understanding each student's strengths and areas for growth, our teachers can better meet the needs of every learner.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need additional information. I am happy to help.

Mrs. Howard
Assistant Principal

FAST Progress Monitoring 1 (PM1) and Progress Monitoring 2 (PM2) Results

PM1 and PM2 results will be available electronically on the FOCUS Parent Portal. A parent email will go out from CCPS once the scores are loaded. It is important to note that the new state mandated FAST PM1 and PM2 tests include grade-level content for the entire year, much of which has not been taught yet. The purpose of these assessments is to provide a baseline score at the beginning of the year to track student progress in learning the B.E.S.T. Standards. Therefore, your child’s achievement level should not be interpreted as a prediction of how he/she will perform on the end of year assessment.

Important lunch information:

SGE is a paid lunch program. Breakfast will continue to be offered at no cost. The price for school lunch meals will be as follows:

• $2.75 - elementary school student lunch

You may still qualify for free/reduced lunch by completing a meal application at www.collierschools.com/nutrition. You MUST complete this application each year.

We have several students with unpaid balances. Parents, please remind your child that lunch is no longer no cost this year. Have the conversation with your child whether or not they should be going through the lunch line or if you packed them a lunch. If you receive a call or email regarding a balance, please send money in the following day to repay your account. Thank you so much and please let us know if you have any questions.

Grub Hub begins the first Friday after Labor Day. Students must have their lanyard and money in their account to purchase snacks.

We are getting into the swing of things: learning school and classroom routines, expectations, and processes. This month’s Counselor Corner is all about PBIS (positive behavior interventions and support). PBIS is a school-wide, evidenced based framework used to address student behavior. It is a proactive approach that follows a multi-tiered system of support and helps to create a positive school climate. We teach our school-wide expectations where we model and practice what expected behaviors look like, sound like, and feel like at Sea Gate.

Our school-wide expectations are the 3 B’s: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. Through our PBIS initiatives, our students and classes are rewarded for following our expectations. Every month we focus on a school-wide theme. We talk about the theme on the school news as well as in Classroom Guidance Lessons with me. This month we focused on responsibility. We had our first Seahorse of the Month Ceremony for Responsibility on Friday, August 28th. September's character trait is Good Citizenship. We will learn about ways we can be good citizens at school, home, and in our Naples community. I teach monthly classroom lessons on character education, coping strategies, and problem solving. I work with students in groups and one-on-one to help them reach their fullest potential when faced with issues that may interfere with their academic success.

Parents need to check the “yes” for Consent for Counseling Services in Focus if you would like me to speak with your student.

Here are some of our SGE PBIS terms for parents/guardians to be “in the know” 😊:

SGE PBIS Expectations: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible

Individual Incentives:

· Super Seahorse Cards: blue cards given to students as a form of praise/ “caught following our expectations”) Students put their name & teacher on the back and are entered in grade level bins for a drawing on “Super Seahorse Fridays” on the school news for a chance to win a Spirit Stick on Friday’s. Spirit sticks are a fun incentive that students can collect throughout the year! (see picture below)

· Student of the Month: One student per class is recognized who exemplifies the monthly character trait. They receive a special Spirit Stick, medal, and Culver’s coupon!

· Positive Referrals: Students who go above and beyond expectations can be rewarded with a positive referral. Any SGE staff may submit these and students receive “Counselor Mail.”

Class Incentives:

· Compliment Chart: a chart the class fills up with each compliment received and the class chooses their reward

School Wide Incentive:

· PBIS Day: A school-wide celebration of positive behavior during related arts time. Students who are in good behavior standing are invited to attend.

Thanks for reading!

Ms. Brewer

Remember the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Remember how, for Goldilocks, Papa Bear’s chair was too hard, Mama Bear’s chair was too soft, but Baby Bear’s chair was just right? Well, the same premise applies to the books your child chooses to read. Some books may be too hard, some might be too easy, but there are some books that are “just right.”

In an attempt to help your child read “just right” books, next week students in grades 2-5 are being given a bookmark with their suggested independent reading level. This “Lexile” level was derived based upon your child’s recent i-Ready Inform performance. This number range is a prediction of the level at which your child will comprehend a majority of a text successfully.

Most books in our media center have a color-coded label based on the Lexile level of the book. This color-coded label will help your child pick out their “just right” books. When children read books that are “just right” for them, they tend make higher academic gains. Additionally, our books that are color-coded have an Accelerated Reader test to go along with it. This means your child can read the book and take a test to earn points towards a goal! Please take a moment to ask your child for their Lexile level and ask to look at the books they are reading. Also, children should be reading in a quiet environment for at least 20-30 uninterrupted minutes a day.

If your child is in Kindergarten or First grade, you can find recommended read-aloud books on pages 152 or 153 of our BEST Standards found at:

https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7539/urlt/elabeststandardsfinal.pdf

Thank you for all you do to support your child’s education!

It has been wonderful to see familiar faces and meet new ones, as students have visited this Media Center this year!

· Students in grades 2-5 are allowed to check out 3 library books

· First grade students are allowed to check out 2 library books

· Kinder students are allowed to check out one library book

Students are able to keep their books for one week, but can renew their books if they haven’t finished reading them. All students have received a large, reinforced mesh zipper bag to keep in their backpack. This bag is for storing library books, as it is an additional way to keep library books safe. Please make sure students always have this bag in their backpack. Thank you for helping us encourage reading at home and keeping our books in great shape for the next Seahorse to read!

We are hosting the first Book Fair of the year at the end of the month! We are continuing with Scholastic again this year. Our Up, Up, and Read Away Book Fair will be September 28-October 2. We will be having preview days to come as a class, as well as shopping days throughout the week. More information, including the Book Fair flyer, will be coming soon.

Scholastic will have their eWallet option available as a digital alternative to bringing money to school. Please remember that Scholastic’s eWallet is not tied into My School Bucks in any way. Click the link for more information on how to set up an eWallet for your student. NOTE: eWallets cannot be set up until September 4 at the earliest. https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/ewallet.html

All students have been issued a CCPS Laptop. Here are some reminders about laptop use and care:

· Students should always transport the laptop zipped up IN THE CASE – between classes, to Technology class, everywhere they go

· The only items to go into the laptop case are computer-related items: laptop, charger, headphones, mouse, etc.

· Students should not put their laptop in their backpack

· Students should not put their laptop on the floor

· Just like with library books, students should keep food and liquids AWAY from their laptop

· Students should make sure their laptop is fully on their table/desk – do not let it hang off the edge

· Students should keep their charging cords close – cords are a tripping hazard

· Students should be shutting their laptop down at the end of the day, and not just closing the screen (Windows àPoweràShut Down)

We understand that accidents happen, and damage can occur to the laptop, however, students are responsible for maintaining their devices, so if the laptop needs to be repaired, a fine will incur. Here are the costs of replacing damaged items:

Power adapter

Keyboard

Screen Touch / Non-Touch

Laptop Replacement

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

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

Dear Sea Gate Families,

My name is Ashley Ellis, and I am the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Specialist at Sea Gate Elementary. I look forward to partnering with you throughout the school year to support your child’s growth, learning, and success.

Contact Information

Ashley Ellis

If you have questions regarding your child’s 504 Accommodation Plan, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or Educational Plan (EP), please do not hesitate to contact me. I am also available to assist families who have questions about the eligibility process for these supports and services. I am happy to explain the process, help you understand the next steps, and answer any questions you may have. If I am away from my desk when you reach out, I will return your message by the end of the school day.

For Current ESE Students

Each student with an IEP has been assigned a case manager who will work closely with your child and their classroom teacher. Case managers have sent home welcome letters that include their contact information. Your child’s case manager and classroom teacher will serve as your primary contacts for academic updates and day-to-day communication.

Accommodations

Students with 504 Plans or IEPs will receive the accommodations outlined in their individual plans across all applicable subject areas. Any accommodations designated for district or state assessments will also be provided as appropriate during testing.

For Families New to Sea Gate, Collier County, or Florida

If your child previously received services through an IEP, 504 Plan, or Educational Plan in another school district or state, please contact me to ensure all necessary documentation has been received and help support a smooth transition of services.

I look forward to a successful school year and to working together as a collaborative team to support your child’s academic, social, and personal growth.

Sincerely,

Ms. Ellis

9/7: No School, Happy Labor Day!

9/9: Kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grade ELA PM1

9/10: 1st and 4th grade ELA PM1

9/11: 5th grade ELA PM1

• Heroes' Day: Wear Red, White and Blue

9/16: Kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grade Math PM1

9/17: 1st and 4th grade Math PM1

• PTO General Membership Meeting @ 9:00am in the cafeteria
• 3rd grade to the Artis, Young Person's Concert

9/18: 5th grade Math PM1

9/21: No school students, Teacher Professional Learning Day

9/25: Book Fair Preview

9/28 - 10/2: Book Fair Week

9/29: 5th grade to the Artis

10/6: Fall School Picture Day

10/9: End of Quarter 1

• 5th grade Science Quarter 1 Benchmark

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.

New this year, our Parent Grade Leads are here to be your go-to parent connectors - helping families connect, sharing grade level info, and planning ways to bring your grade community together. Be sure you’re signed up for grade-level communications so you don’t miss what's planned! You’ll hear more about their planned events at the 9/17 PTO meeting, but feel free to reach out anytime using the emails listed.