The Calusa Connection
January 2026
Dear Calusa Park Families,
Happy New Year! I hope you had a joyful and restful holiday season. As we step into 2026, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued support and dedication to our school community.
The start of a new year brings fresh opportunities, and I’m excited about what lies ahead in our second semester. Together, we will continue to focus on academic growth, building strong relationships, and creating a positive environment where every student can thrive.
Let’s make this semester amazing! Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Here’s to a year filled with learning, growth, and success.
Sincerely,
Susie Summers
Principal of the Calusa Park Black Bears
Happy New Year Families!
We hope your winter break was filled with rest, joy, and special moments with loved ones. As we welcome back students, our school community is excited to begin this next chapter of the school year with renewed energy, focus, and purpose.
January is a time for fresh starts. Across campus, students are reestablishing routines, setting personal goals, and jumping back into learning. Our teachers are working diligently to support students academically and help them continue making strong progress in their learning.
This month, students will participate in FAST assessments, which help us measure progress and guide instruction. Please help your child do their best by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive to school on time.
FAST Testing Schedule
ELA
- January 13 – Grades 3, 4, and 5
- January 14 – Grade 2
- January 15 – Kindergarten & Grade 1
Math
- January 20 – Grades 3, 4, and 5
- January 21 – Grade 2
- January 22 – Kindergarten & Grade 1
Attendance and punctuality are especially important during testing and throughout the school year. Every day of instruction matters, and being present helps students feel confident, connected, and ready to learn.
🧸 Toys at School – Friendly Reminder
As a reminder from last month, we ask that families please continue checking backpacks to ensure that all toys remain at home. Toys can easily become distractions and may disrupt learning in the classroom. Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep students focused, engaged, and ready to learn each day.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to a strong and successful start to the new year and are grateful to share this journey with such an amazing school community.
Wishing you a happy, healthy, and successful 2026!
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
- January 6th: Students Return
- January 12th: Report Cards Published
- January 13th: Grades 3, 4, 5 ELA PM2 Testing
- January 14th: Grade 2 ELA PM2 Testing
- January 15th: KG & 1 ELA PM2 Testing
- January 15th: PTO General Meeting 7:45am in Media Center
- January 16th: SAC Meeting 7:45am in Media Center
- January 19th: NO SCHOOL for Staff and Students
- January 20th: Grades 3, 4, 5 Math PM2 Testing
- January 21st: Grade 2 Math PM2 Testing
- January 21st: Q2 Student Led Conferences (at home)
- January 22nd: KG & 1 Math PM2 Testing
- January 23rd: Habit Hero of the Month (select students)
- Week of January 26th-30th: Literacy Week and Book Fair!
- January 27th: Family Literacy Night 5:00-6:30pm
- January 30th: PTO Movie Night
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.
Happy New Year! January is a great time to set goals and start fresh. As we begin the second semester, I encourage families to take a few moments to talk with your children about their hopes and plans for the months ahead. Setting small, achievable goals can help students feel confident and motivated.
Tips for Setting Goals with Your Child:
- Be Specific: Instead of “I want to read more,” try “I will read for 15 minutes each night.”
- Make Them Measurable: Choose goals you can track, like completing homework on time or learning 10 new sight words.
- Keep Them Realistic: Start small so success feels attainable.
- Celebrate Progress: Recognize effort and improvement along the way!
Remember, I’m here to support your child’s academic, social, and emotional growth. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s work together to make this semester a positive and successful experience for every student!
Family Literacy Night- Tuesday, January 27th
Join Us for Family Literacy Night!
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm for an evening of fun and learning at CPE! Families will enjoy hands-on activities designed to spark a love of reading, including Sensory Station Sensation, Sight Word Fishing, Corduroy’s Build a Bear Workshop, Fin-Tastic Fun with Clark the Shark, Catch It If You Can Challenge, Comprehension Catchers, and High Above the Beanstalk Parachute Challenge.
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate literacy together. We can’t wait to see you there!
Happy New Year! January is the perfect time to spark curiosity and strengthen problem-solving skills.
In math, we’re focusing on strategies that help students explain their thinking and explore multiple ways to solve problems. In science, we’re diving into hands-on investigations that encourage questioning and discovery—because science is all about exploring the “why” behind the world around us!
Families can support at home by asking questions like:
- “How did you figure that out?” (Math)
- “What do you think will happen next?” (Science)
These conversations build confidence and critical thinking.
Family Challenge of the Month
Try this fun activity together: The Melting Race!
- Gather three ice cubes and place each in a different container: one in warm water, one in cold water, and one in salt water.
- Predict: Which ice cube will melt the fastest? Why?
- Time each one and record your results.
- Bonus Math Connection: Create a simple bar graph showing the melting times!
This quick experiment combines observation, prediction, and data analysis—perfect for family fun and learning!
Hello CPE Families,
Thank You for Making “Let It Snow” a Success!
A huge thank you to all of our families for joining us at our annual Let It Snow event in December! The night was filled with laughter, joy, and countless smiles. Your participation and support truly made it a memorable celebration for our school community. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Join Us for Our Next PTO Meeting
We’d love to see you at our next PTO meeting on Thursday, January 15th at 7:45 AM in the Media Center. Your ideas and involvement make a big difference—hope to see you there!
Mark Your Calendars – Movie Night is Coming!
Our next big event is Movie Night on Friday, January 30th! It’s going to be a fun evening for the whole family, so stay tuned—more details will be coming home soon. We can’t wait to see you there!
Warmly,
CPE PTO
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
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
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.
Calusa Park Elementary
Location: 4600 Santa Barbara Blvd, Naples, FL 34104
Phone: 239-377-6400
Twitter: @blackbearsroar
Facebook: Calusa Park Elementary
