The Calusa Connection
October 2026
Dear Calusa Park Families,
What a wonderful start to the school year! We have officially completed a successful and learning-filled Quarter 1, and I am so proud of all our students have accomplished. Our students have worked hard toward their goals, celebrated their successes, made new friends, grown academically, built confidence, and shown kindness throughout our school community.
Now, we are excited to welcome October and another amazing quarter! There is so much to look forward to, including:
- PTO Chick-fil-A Night
- Kids on the Go Begins
- 3rd Grade STEAM Morning
- Fall Pictures
- Canned Food Drive
- Habit Hero of the Month
- Kindergarten Chuck E. Cheese Night
- PTO Smencils Sales
- Red Ribbon Week
More information about these exciting events can be found below or will be shared soon.
Thank you to our amazing staff and families for your continued support. We are looking forward to another incredible quarter filled with learning, growth, and fun!
Together, we are One Team. One Mission. Level Up!
With gratitude and excitement,
Susie Summers
Principal of the Black Bears
Dear Families,
October is an exciting time at Calusa Park Elementary. Our students have settled into their routines, classroom communities are thriving, and learning is in full swing. It's a perfect time to reflect on how students are growing academically, socially, and as leaders.
This year, we're challenging our students to Level Up their learning and leadership each day by focusing on:
- Level Up Your Learning: Come to school on time, prepared, and ready to learn.
- Level Up Your Leadership: Show kindness, respect, and inclusion toward others.
- Level Up Your Choices: Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself and use words that are respectful and appropriate.
- Level Up Your Responsibility: Complete assignments, follow directions, and take pride in your work.
- Level Up Your Readiness: Follow the school dress code and leave toys, trading cards, and other personal items at home unless they are part of a teacher-approved activity or special event.
At home, we encourage you to ask your child how they "leveled up" their learning or leadership that day. These simple conversations help reinforce the important habits and character traits we are building together.
First Quarter Report Cards
First quarter report cards will be available in Focus on October 19.
- Access Report Cards: Log in to your Focus account and click the Reports tab under your child's photo.
- Celebrate Growth: Recognize your child's accomplishments and progress.
- Set Goals: Discuss strengths, areas for improvement, and goals for the second quarter.
- Stay Connected: Reach out to your child's teacher with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your partnership in helping our students Level Up through positive choices, respectful behavior, and a commitment to learning each day.
Respectfully,
Mrs. Finger
Assistant Principal
Calusa Park Elementary School
School Doors Open: 7:45am
FREE Breakfast: 7:45am-8:15am
Bell Rings to Enter Classrooms: 8:10am
School News Show Begins: 8:20am
Students are Marked Tardy: arriving 8:25am or later
Dismissal: 2:55pm
- 10/6- Science Q1 Benchmark 5th Grade; PTO Chic-fil-a night 5-8pm
10/7- Kids on the Go Starts! Every Wednesday and Thursday morning from 7:45-8:10am. Students participating should still be dropped off in carline (not earlier) or ride the bus like normal. Students should bring an extra pair or socks and sneakers in their backpack due to wet grass on these days.
- 10/9- Q1 ends
- 10/12- NO SCHOOL- Teacher planning day
- 10/15- 3rd STEAM morning at 7:45am
- 10/19- Fall Pictures; Report cards go home
- 10/19-10/30- Canned Food Drive
- 10/23- Habit Hero of the Month; KG Chuck E Cheese night
- Week of 10/26- PTO Smencils Sales in Courtyard and Red Ribbon Week
- 10/29- Early Release Day- Dismissal at 11:55am; Girl Scouts information night in café at 6pm
- Week of 11/2- PK-2nd Student Led Conferences in Person
- 11/6- Interim Period Ends
- Week of 11/9- 3rd-5th Student Led Conferences in Person
- 11/9- Picture Retakes
- 11/10- PK-2nd Jack Hartmann Presentation
- 11/12- Q2 Interims Distributed
Morning Drop-Off Procedures
We would like to remind everyone of our morning drop-off procedures and the importance of following them to ensure the safety of all students.
The car line begins moving at 7:45 a.m. Until that time, students must remain in their vehicles with a parent or guardian. There is no staff supervision before 7:45 a.m. Therefore, students should NOT be dropped off or left unattended in front of the school for any reason.
Parents should NOT be dropping off students and having them walk across the walkway or enter the school grounds on their own before 7:45 a.m. Students must remain with their parent or guardian until the official drop-off procedure begins. Once car line begins, parents must walk their child across the cross walk if not utilizing the car line. Again, the car line is our procedure.
This expectation applies to all students, including Safety Patrol students. Safety Patrol students should remain in the car line with their parent or guardian and may begin their Safety Patrol duties once they are dropped off when the car line begins moving at 7:45 a.m. There is no need for Safety Patrol students to arrive early or be left unattended before 7:45 a.m.
Recently, we have observed students being left unattended before 7:45 a.m. and running around, chasing one another, and shouting across the area. Because staff are not supervising students during this time, this creates an unsafe situation.
Moving forward, we will be enforcing this procedure consistently. Please plan accordingly and remain in the car line with your child until it begins moving at 7:45 a.m.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a safe environment for all of our students. We need your help to ensure student safety.
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.
Complete your child's emergency forms on-line beginning on August 6th. This is very important as we need the most current and updated information every year.
You will login to the CCPS Portal to access FOCUS to review and update your child's emergency and health information for the current school year. Directions to access forms are below and you can get to the CCPS Portal by clicking on this link: https://origin.collierschools.com/app/Portal
At CPE, we want every student to keep growing as a reader and learner. Our Wildly Important Goal (WIG) is to achieve a schoolwide pass rate of 80% or higher on i-Ready lessons each week. We track our progress on our Level Up Bulletin Board and celebrate our schoolwide achievements on the school news each week!
Students can help us reach our WIG by spending 45 minutes on i-Ready during class each week and aiming to pass 1–2 lessons with a score of 80% or higher. Every lesson passed helps our Black Bears level up together!
Families can support this goal by asking children what they learned, encouraging them when something feels challenging, and celebrating their effort and growth. Every student plays a part in reaching our goal!
Habit Hero of the Month
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!
We’re always grateful for your support of our Prize Cart! Donations can be dropped off at the front office and help us keep the cart stocked with fun rewards for our students.
Popular prize items include Matchbox cars, fidget toys, Rubik’s Cubes, squish toys, and stress balls. Every donation makes a difference and helps us celebrate our students’ hard work and positive choices. Thank you for supporting our school community!
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 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.
🎉Meet the Calusa Park Elementary PTO Board!
- Paul Aliseo- President
- Mariska Warder- Vice President
- Jen Corneil- Secretary
- Amanda Jarrett- Treasurer
- Courtney Ward- Teacher Liaison
Our next PTO meeting will be held on November 12th at 7:45am. Please come to learn about PTO and how you can help support your child and all students here at CPE!
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 once school starts.
- 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
Calusa Park Elementary
Location: 4600 Santa Barbara Blvd, Naples, FL 34104
Phone: 239-377-6400
Twitter: @blackbearsroar
Facebook: Calusa Park Elementary
