Cape Elementary: Seahawk Sentinel

January 17, 2024

Cape's Mission & Vision

Mission: To provide a safe and supportive learning community where every student experiences success.

Vision: We believe that the most promising strategy for achieving the mission of Cape Elementary is to develop our capacity to function as a professional learning community.

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Message from Ms. Osterholm and Mrs. Sund

Dear Cape Families,

Wishing a Happy New Year to all our Cape students, staff, and families! We hope each of you had a restful and memorable time with your family and friends during the winter break.

January often marks the beginning of a new calendar year, and for schools, it's an excellent time to initiate positive changes and set a refreshed tone for the rest of the academic year. We are ready to make 2024 a year filled with success through hard work and dedication by providing students with daily opportunities to learn and grow. We are in this together – administrators, teachers, support staff, students and families.

January is a busy month for our school. Please take a look at the school calendar in this newsletter, in the back of your child’s planner, or on our website. We will have our 5th Annual PTO Fun Run on January 24 and 25.

We are looking forward to Student-Led Conferences on January 24th. Student-led conferences are a great way to empower students and involve them in their own learning process. It allows them to take ownership of their education, reflect on their progress, and showcase their achievements. Attending these conferences can provide valuable insights into a student's perspective on their learning journey. Remember, student-led conferences are not only about academic performance but also about fostering a sense of responsibility, self-awareness, and a love for learning. We hope the conferences are a rewarding experience for both you and the students!

Cape Elementary continues to communicate using School Messenger, Peach Jar and FOCUS for grades, events and emergencies. Please make sure that we have your correct phone number and email address. We send automated messages about once a week via phone and email. If you are not receiving messages, please contact the office at Cape Elementary to confirm the information that we have on file.

Cape Elementary is a special place. We are thankful for our students, staff and parents. Here's to making 2024 a year filled with growth, success, and joy. May it be a year of exciting opportunities, meaningful accomplishments, and positive experiences.

Please call us if you have any questions or concerns. We are happy to assist in any way that we can.

Sincerely,

Ms. Osterholm and Mrs. Sund

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PTO News!

Hello everyone! Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your families and friends.

Thank you to all who attended our Annual Breakfast with Santa event at Cape Vineyards Community Church! This was our largest breakfast yet. Our teachers, staff, PTO, and volunteers enjoyed serving you!

Our 2023 Holiday Shoppe was a huge success! The students loved shopping for their family and friends! Thank you to everyone who volunteered! Whether it was decorating, helping children shop, gift wrapping, or helping clean up, we could not have done it without you! We've been hard at work over break shopping to replenish our inventory for next year.

Our Annual Fun Run will be January 24th and 25th during Specials time. Be on the lookout for more information about donations, pledging money for your student when they run, and volunteering for the event.

Upcoming Events:

Fun Run Jan. 24th & 25th

Fun Run Pledges due Feb. 1st

Valentine Gram Sales Feb. 5th - Feb. 8th

PTO/SAC meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6th at 6pm.

Thank you for all you do to support Cape Elementary PTO

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January Counseling Corner

Our Quarter 2 Seymour’s Winter Games was a GREAT success! Thank you to our volunteers and teachers for supervising the fun! Of the 758 students enrolled at Cape Elementary prior to the start of Quarter 3, 635 students were eligible to attend the celebration! That is 84% attendance!!!!

Thank you to our community partner Cape Coral First Methodist Church for providing Christmas gifts for 24 of our families! Over 60 children received gifts thanks to the church’s, our staff’s and our dedicated community partners’ generosity.

At Cape Elementary, all programs are aimed at educating and nurturing the whole child. As we embark on a new year, the counseling spotlight is focused on the importance of emotional regulation (Zones of Regulation) and the impact it has on well-being at school and at home:

1. Setting Intentions and the Green Zone: January is a great time to set intentions for the year ahead. In the Green Zone, we encourage you to reflect on your emotional goals and consider what steps you can take to achieve them. Whether it's practicing mindfulness, incorporating self-care routines, or fostering positive connections, setting intentions can guide us towards emotional balance.

2. Winter Blues and the Blue Zone: The winter season can sometimes bring a touch of the blues. If you find yourself in the Blue Zone, remember it's okay to acknowledge those feelings. Engage in activities that bring you joy, reach out to friends or family for support, and consider ways to add warmth and brightness to your days.

3. Celebrating Successes in the Yellow Zone: January is a perfect time to celebrate your accomplishments, big or small. In the Yellow Zone, recognize your achievements and take pride in your progress. Acknowledging success can boost motivation and reinforce positive habits.

4. Coping with Challenges in the Red Zone: If you encounter challenges that lead you to the Red Zone, remember the importance of healthy coping strategies. Whether it's deep breathing exercises, talking to a trusted friend, or seeking professional support, there are resources available to help navigate difficult times.

The district-wide character word for January is Commitment. This involves binding yourself to a course of action despite obstacles. The district’s quote for the month is, “Commitment is what transfers a promise into reality.”

Many people make resolutions at the beginning of a new year. It is important to evaluate the previous year and look at areas where there is room for improvement, but what happens when we break a resolution? Is it okay to give up? This is where commitment comes in. Commitment is what carries us through when our resolve begins to fade. Remember, commitment is often the difference between success and failure. Keep in mind, our children are watching to see if we follow through from plans to actions. Thank you for helping instill commitment in our future leaders.