Heights Happenings

Our Mission: Heights Elementary IB World School is dedicated to developing balanced, lifelong learners through educational excellence, a global perspective, reflection and action.

Our Vision: To Be A World Class School.

What an incredible start to the 2026–2027 school year! It has been exciting to see our students return to Heights with enthusiasm and a readiness to learn. During these first few weeks, students have been working hard to learn classroom and school routines, understand expectations, and build the habits that will help them have a successful year.

One area we are especially excited about is the work our students are doing to set meaningful goals for themselves. Students are creating personal academic goals and tracking their progress in their student data folders. These folders provide students with an opportunity to take ownership of their learning, celebrate their growth, and identify areas where they can continue to improve.

Throughout the year, students will participate in data chats with their classroom teachers, as well as members of our Heights Administration and Instructional Teams. It has been wonderful to see how excited our students are to share their data, talk about their goals, and show off the hard work they are doing each week in the classroom. We believe that when students understand where they are in their learning and where they are headed, they become more engaged and empowered in their educational journey.

Our IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and PBIS programs continue to play an important role in shaping the culture and learning environment at Heights. Through these programs, we strive to develop knowledgeable, caring, reflective, and internationally minded learners while also reinforcing the positive behaviors and expectations that help make Heights such a special place to learn and grow.

As we continue our journey of being Anchored in Excellence and Sailing Toward Greatness, we look forward to connecting with our Heights families and partnering with you throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Your support and involvement are an important part of our students' success.

Also, be on the lookout for information about our Grade-Level Curriculum Nights taking place during the first semester. These events will provide families with an opportunity to learn more about what students will be learning throughout the year and how we can work together to support their success.

Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of the Heights Elementary family. We are looking forward to an amazing year ahead!

School Hours: 8:40am—3:10 pm

Doors open for students: 8:15 am

Breakfast: 8:15-8:35 am

Heights Contact Information:

Address: 15200 Alexandria Ct. Ft. Myers, FL 33908

Telephone: 239.481.1761 Fax:239.481.3154

Website: het.leeschools.net

Twitter: @HeightsIB

Facebook: Heights Elementary

Instagram: heightselementary

Heights Contacts:

Dean of Students: Bryanna Van Helden

School Counselor: Janelle Du Preez

IB PYP Coordinator: Kate Kebhart

Reading Coach Kg-2nd grade: Katie Bocchino

Reading Coach 3rd-5th grade: Mekenzie Trina

Math Coach: Natasha Edinger

504 Accommodations and Intervention Specialist: Mekenzie Trina

After School Program: Lisa McElyea

Contact information Changes: Jen Kurowski

Transportation: Bryanna Van Helden

Gifted testing: Lisa Alexander

Clinic: Nurse Carey and Noelia Feliciano

Sept. 1st: SAC Meeting (9:00 am)

Sept. 3rd: 3rd grade ELA FAST PM1

Sept. 4th: Sports Team Day

Sept. 7th: Labor Day (schools closed)

Sept. 8th: Kg-2nd grade ELA FAST PM1

Sept. 9th: 4th & 5th grade ELA FAST PM1

Sept. 10th: 3rd grade MATH FAST PM1

Sept. 11th: Wear Red, White, and Blue

Sept. 11th: 4th & 5th grade MATH FAST PM1

Sept. 11th: Ice cream on sale during lunch

Sept. 11th: Heights PTA Family Park Day (3:45)

Sept. 14th: Kg-2nd grade MATH FAST PM1

Sept. 16th: 1st quarter Interims (available in FOCUS after 5:00pm)

Sept. 18th: Peace Day

Sept. 24th: Heights PTA Skate Night (4:00 & 6:30)

Sept. 25th: Snow Cones on sale during recess

Sept. 28th: NEHS Meeting (3:45-4:30)

Sept. 28th-Oct. 9th: Heights Read-a-thon

Read-A-Thons actually get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.

This year, our Read-A-Thon will be Monday, September 28th through Friday, October 9th.

About one week before our Read-A-Thon starts, we will send home instructions on how to activate your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to view and record their progress. Be on the lookout for your child's flier on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in their communication envelope. You can log in or scan the QR code provided on the flier.

Students will earn exciting prizes! Students will keep 15% of their donations to spend in the Read-A-Thon online prize store. There are over 200 fun prizes ranging from electronics to school supplies. Watch this fun video for more information: https://youtu.be/5gxTncC24r0?si=b8-zRgAQKfc-0H8C

We've chosen Read-A-Thon because it will not take much of your time, gives your child a reason to read, and helps in the development of stronger reading skills.

We hope EVERYONE participates.

Do you have a Focus Account? If not, it's important that you sign up. There are many forms that are required to be signed before getting your child's schedule or in order to ensure your child can receive care at the school clinics. Plus, get access to grades, attendance, and much more. Sign up today: https://www.leeschools.net/our_schools/focus

All campus visitors will need to show their ID at the door and also to receive a visitor pass. Based on the School District of Lee County safety procedures, we are ONLY allowed to accept physical forms of ID when you show up on campus. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept picture IDs on a cell phone or from the Florida Real ID website. Thank you for your understanding and helping to keep our campus safe.

Student safety is all of our responsibility. Know when to stop for a stopped school bus to keep our students safe.

🛑 On a two-lane highway, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus displays its stop signals.

🛑 On a multi-lane highway (paved), vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when a school bus displays its stop signals.

🟡 On a divided highway with a raised median, a physical barrier, or an unpaved space at least five feet, vehicles traveling in the same direction must stop when a school bus displays its stop signals. Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction may proceed with caution. Stop for the bus. It’s Florida State Law.

Our students have been shining bright by demonstrating our PAWS expectations and making fantastic choices every day! Every positive decision earns points for individual students and adds to their House team’s total. At the end of each month, the House sitting at the top of the leaderboard earns an exciting surprise and celebration. A huge shout out to The Caring Crew (Pink House) for bringing home the win for August! Keep up the incredible effort, everyone!

At Heights Elementary, our school day begins promptly at 8:40 a.m. Arriving on time each day is one of the most important life skills parents and guardians can help instill in their children. Being present and punctual sets the tone for success—not only in school but throughout life.

The morning is a critical part of the school day. This is when school announcements are made, teachers outline the day’s learning objectives, and essential instructional activities begin. When students arrive late or miss school, they not only miss valuable learning time but also fall behind on important instructions, classroom routines, and social interactions that help them feel connected and prepared. Chronic absences or tardiness can impact academic progress, confidence, and overall engagement with school.

We ask that you partner with us in helping your child develop strong habits of attendance and punctuality. Consistently arriving on time and attending school every day helps students build routines, take full advantage of learning opportunities, and set themselves up for long-term success.

Attendance Reminder:

If your child is absent from school, please provide a note or doctor’s note upon their return explaining the reason for the absence. This is required for the absence to be considered excused. For questions about excused or unexcused absences, please review the Student Code of Conduct or contact Ms. Kurowski.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in keeping our school day safe and smooth. With the extreme afternoon temperatures, we need a quick favor from our Heights families to help protect our dedicated staff members during dismissal.

Because our carline moves so quickly and efficiently, our team often clears the line early and is left standing out on the hot asphalt simply waiting between late-arriving vehicles. To keep our staff safe from prolonged heat exposure while maintaining a smooth flow, we are adjusting our afternoon carline routine starting Monday, August 31st:

• Target Arrival: Please plan to be in the carline by 3:30 PM.
• Carline Closure: The pickup line will officially close at 3:35 PM for any vehicles not already in line.
• Late Pick-Up Procedure: If you arrive after 3:35 PM, please park in the main lot and come into the front office to pick up your student. For student security, please remember to bring your car tag or driver's license.

We know afternoon schedules and traffic can be tricky, so we genuinely appreciate your teamwork and flexibility as we implement this change. Arriving on time allows us to load all students quickly and get our hardworking staff inside out of the heat.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly. (239)481-1761 our douglascp@leeschools.net. Thank you for your continued kindness and support of our Heights community!

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme is a curriculum framework designed for students aged 3 to 12. The PYP transdisciplinary framework focuses on the development of the whole child and an inquirer, both at school and beyond.

Check out the Heights IB Website: Click here

As IB learners we strive to be knowledgeable. We explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In doing so, we acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

How can parents help to develop students who are knowledgeable at home?

• Encourage your child to be aware of current events by watching the news or reading news articles when appropriate.
• Explore connections between the area of interest and other topics.
• When your child asks a question, encourage them to seek the answer out rather than giving them the answer.
• Ask your child about what they are learning in school and engage them in conversations about it.
• Foster areas of interest that your child displays though books, outings and activities.

Ask:

• "Why do you think that is important to know?"
• "Can you think of anything that's happening today that might be similar to...?"
• "What does that make you think of?"
• "Does that remind you of anything else you've learned?"

At Heights Elementary, we take pride in maintaining a clean, respectful, and distraction-free learning environment—for both our campus and our students. We believe that appropriate attire helps students focus on learning and supports a positive school culture.

Responsibility for student dress rests with the parent/guardian and the student. The principal (or designee) has the authority to interpret and enforce these guidelines in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and Florida State Statute.

👟 Footwear Expectations

• Students must wear closed-toe sneakers or tennis shoes every day.

• Shoes must be secure on the foot and appropriate for daily activities, including PE and recess.

• Crocs, flip-flops, slides, slippers, high heels, and platform shoes are not permitted.

👕 What Students May Wear:

• Pants or jeans that fit properly and are fastened at the waist when needed.

• Shirts that are school-appropriate (no see-through or open-sided shirts).

• Clothing that does not display profanity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, graphic violence, or inappropriate symbols.

• Shorts that are fingertip length or longer.

• Skirts or dresses that fall below the fingertips when arms are held at the sides.

🚫 Items to Avoid:

• Oversized clothing (e.g., baggy pants, unfastened overalls, pants worn below the waist)

• Costumes, capes, gloves, or character masks (except on designated spirit days)

• Tank tops with thin straps, halter tops, strapless tops, low-cut tops, or bare midriffs

• Pajamas or backless dresses/tops

• Ripped, torn, or intentionally altered clothing

• Makeup, glitter, body paint/writing, or fake fingernails

• Excessively large or distracting jewelry

• Hats, hair nets, or any head coverings not related to religious or medical reasons

• Chains, studded accessories, or other potentially dangerous items

• Any clothing or accessories promoting illegal activity or discriminating against others

📝 Important Reminders:

• This list is not all-inclusive. Fashion trends change, and the school reserves the right to determine what is appropriate for a safe and focused learning environment.

• According to Florida State Statute, clothing that exposes underwear or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner is not permitted.

• The principal has final discretion regarding what is deemed appropriate for school.

Money collected from ice cream and Snow Cone sales goes to the Principal's Discretionary Fund. This fund is used to celebrate a variety of events and activities for our students and staff throughout the school year.

To the Chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association and the Students of Heights Elementary

This school 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

Florida State Statute 1012.42 recognizes that teachers at times must be assigned duties in a class outside the field in which the teacher is certified. The following teachers at Heights Elementary are certified, but may be assigned one or more classes outside their areas of certification and are required to take appropriate steps to comply with the statutory regulation: Julie Ramsay (ESE K-12)

In addition, the following teachers are engaged in training to add the endorsement, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), to their certificates: Libby Davis, Jennifer Kee, Olivia Herrmann, Julie Ramsay, Victoria Shultz, & Melissa White

District 1 - Samuel Fisher

District 2 - Melisa W. Giovannelli

District 3 - William F. Ribble Jr., Board Vice Chair

District 4 - Debbie Jordan

District 5 - Armor Persons, Board Chair

District 6 - Jada Langford-Fleming

District 7 - Vanessa M. Chaviano

Superintendent -Denise M. Carlin, Ed.D